20th August, 2020, 

Washington DC: 

UNITED SIKHS and those in the Sikh diaspora thank Rep. Jackie Speier for introducing H. Res. 1085 – 116th Congress condemning targeted terrorist attacks against members of the Sikh, Hindu, and other religious minority communities in Afghanistan. We are grateful to her for supporting refugee protection and recognizing systematic religious persecution, discrimination, and the danger faced by the members of these communities. 

Jasmit Singh, UNITED SIKHS Advocacy Director said, “I marvel at the resilience of these families who even in the midst of despair have trust and hope. It would be a great injustice if we would have turned a blind eye in the face of their adversity. America is the kind of place that would give them an opportunity, a fighting chance and a home.”

Harpreet Singh Sandhu, Executive Director at the American Sikh Congressional Caucus urged that all Caucus Chairs, members of Congress, and Senators step in on urgent humanitarian grounds.  “America has a moral obligation to preserve the sanctity of life and give Afghan Sikhs and Hindus a real chance for religious equality, safety, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.”

UNITED SIKHS also commends the co-sponsors of resolution H. Res. 1085 including Congressman John Garamendi, Congressman Cox, Congressman Carson, Congressman Costa, Congressman McGovern, Congresswoman Coleman, Congresswoman Lofgren and Congressman Raskin. We are thankful to the American Sikh Congressional Caucus, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, the Speaker, the Department of State, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador Brownback for staying resolute and protecting minority Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. “UNITED SIKHS has been and will continue to advocate for and assist those that must stay behind and to relocate the majority who must leave.  We will continue to assist them to seek asylum in the United States, Canada, the U.K, or any nation that can help ensure their security and protection,” states Mr. Singh. 

The Department of State and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom have documented systemic discrimination against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, including restrictions on religious practices, illegal seizure of property, the inability to send their children to public schools due to harassment, judicial bias against religious minorities, and the implementation of constitutional limits on the political rights of religious minorities.

At this juncture, UNITED SIKHS and others are calling upon President Donald Trump to issue an Executive Order that grants permanent entry into the United States for all remaining Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.  Due to the imminent danger they are in, it is vital that they be allowed immediate safe passage into the United States without delay. They urgently need to be granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) refugee or asylum status and immediately placed in safe zones outside of Afghanistan.

Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS International Humanitarian Aid Director stated, “This has always been the role of the United States- to be the beacon for those seeking refuge and freedom from religious oppression and persecution.  Afghan Sikhs and Hindus have undergone decades of oppression because of their religion. They are persecuted and struggle with leaving their ancestral homes or continue to face extinction. America can show the world that it is a global force for good and that it will act to save vulnerable people who support democracy and stand against tyranny. Those in the Sikh and Hindu diaspora in the United States and elsewhere appreciate Rep. Jackie Speier’s taking the initiative and introducing resolution H. Res. 1085. It’s now time for others to follow.”

President Donald Trump proposed resettling up to 18,000 refugees pursuant to section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) for the fiscal year 2020 compared to 110,000 by the Obama administration in 2016.  Wanda Sanchez Day,UNITED SIKHS’s Chief Legal Officer, said “The current administration should increase these numbers to include all those in Afghanistan who are in dire need of asylum on religious persecution grounds.” 

Following the Administration’s proposal, the House of Representatives issued H. Res. 1085,  which states:

“Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) expresses concern for the safety of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan;

(2) condemns all terrorist attacks, religious persecution, targeting and discrimination against members of the Sikh and Hindu religious minority communities in Afghanistan;

(3) recognizes that members of the Sikh and Hindu communities face existential imminent impending danger in Afghanistan; and

(4) supports resettling Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan in the United States under the United States Refugee Admissions Program pursuant to section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157).”

To read more about the Afghan campaign, see: https://unitedsikhs.org/afghan-campaign/

UNITED SIKHS International Civil and Humanitarian Aid (ICHRA) staff have worked for months to see a Resolution like this.   It is a significant first step and UNITED SIKHS will continue to meet with Ambassador Brownback and U.S. officials and the governments of other countries until all Sikhs and Hindus living in Afghanistan are safe.

Issued by:
Gundeep Singh
Media Coordinator
UNITED SIKHS
www.unitedsikhs.org
Recognize The Human Race As One