Sikhs wary of UK backlash as they condemn ‘moment of madness’

Sikhs in the United Kingdom are experiencing heightened anxiety and facing street harassment in the wake of the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa. While the Sikh community has unequivocally condemned the killing, leaders warn that inflammatory political rhetoric is fueling a backlash against them. Amandeep Singh, an educator with the charity Basics of Sikhi, reported that at least 15 Sikhs have been accosted by groups demanding to see their kirpans, attempting to incite racial tensions.

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We’re a community that has probably been celebrated as one that is very successfully integrated into the British value system. We’ve worn kirpans for hundreds of years and since we’ve been invited to settle in this country.

Digwa, who was sentenced to life in prison, initially misled police by falsely claiming Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. This led officers to wrongly arrest and handcuff the injured teenager. The Sikh community has expressed disgust and betrayal over Nowak's killing, with Kuldeep Singh Deol, former president of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, stating that the incident was the act of "one man" and not representative of the Sikh community.

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At least 15 people have been accosted on the streets by collectives of white individuals surrounding Sikhs and asking, ‘Have you got a kirpan?’, trying to stir up racial tensions.

Adding to the community's fears is the political reaction to the case. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for "pure cold rage," and the party has vowed to ban the kirpan, a small blade worn by Sikhs as an article of faith, if they gain power. While current law permits Sikhs to carry the kirpan for religious purposes, the prosecution noted that Digwa carried both a small kirpan under his clothing and a larger knife, which the judge described as a "large Sikh dagger."

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We really feel for Henry’s family. The wider Sikh community is really upset as things have unfolded. Last night the police bodycam footage came out and I think that’s actually made things even more painful for everyone to take in.