Global Panthic Response to Henry Novak Killing an Exemplary Precedent for All Communities

Spontaneous condemnation of a crime by a misguided individual identified as a Sikh, is a responsible global Sikh community reaction. A Statement has been issued from the highest Sikh theo-temporal Institution, Sri Akal Takht Sahib deep condolences to the Novak family have been expressed and Ardas (prayers) at Gurdwaras have been recited. All to stress the core Sikhi principles, including the central Sikhi theme of Sarbat da Bhala, the well-being of all humanity.

For crimes against them, British Sikhs blame only misguided elements and not whole communities. In September and October 2025 there was widespread outrage and call for justice following horrific, racially and religiously aggravated sexual assaults against two Sikh women. Earlier Sikh immigrants, who chose to make UK their home, have been law abiding, net contributing loyal British Citizens. Yet, over the decades they have suffered open discrimination in silence. Their struggle to secure the right to Sikh identity has been uphill through the law courts.

Other communities can learn from the Sikhs and be more forthright in condemning crimes when linked to their religio-ethnic ideologies and identities. Otherwise, criminals have no religion.

The question looming larger each day amongst British Sikhs is if they are (mistakenly) seen as a soft target by politicians and extreme right elements who thrive on social divisions. The impression so far is that, in this case, Sikhs have been selected for discriminatory treatment.

Both, the victim and the assailant have immigrant family backgrounds, Polish and Sikh respectively. Yet, their skin colours have been exploited. That is obvious from an ill-considered initial reaction by one senior politician. UK political, policy, institutional and procedural failures in recent times have been conflated and the whole Sikh community targeted by extreme right politicians.

Sikhs should join political parties of own choice. In turn, senior political leaders should consult community representatives in their parties before issuing irresponsible and ill-informed statements targeting any community. Or worse, making a whole community scapegoat for policy and procedural failures of successive governments and law enforcement agencies. For example, British Sikhs are not responsible for uncontrolled illegal immigration in recent years.

In the aftermath of the verdict in the case of Henry Novak, it seems that a Sikh Article of Faith, the Kirpan and the whole Sikh community has been put on trial. In this climate, call for a statutory public inquiry by the Sikh federation UK is a sensible next step. That will be just for the Nowak family and the Sikh community. It will parse the case in full public view, bring out the truth and help future processes and procedures and, hopefully, improve community relations.

Otherwise, much damage to community relations has been done and continues to be done. Next generation British Sikhs are of different temperament than the earlier generations. They need timely assurance by the establishment that all British citizens are equal.

Sikhs seek Sarbat da Bhalaa of all humanity and also have a history of defending the rights of all, including their own. They will push back firmly against injustice and political exploitation of a crime by one person.

The life sentence of 21 years given to Vickrum Singh Digwa has been referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The case will continue to attract public attention.

British Sikh community is being demonised. That is not fair. That is not British!

Gurmukh Singh OBE

E-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurmukh_Singh_OBE