London, UK - Sikhs were disappointed that for the third year in succession the European Parliament were unable to properly accommodate those taking part in the Sikh Freedom Lobby.
In the first year the Indian Government representatives in Brussels were exposed for pressuring the administration as they were nervous about the lobby raising issues to expose the human rights violations in India and gain support for the Sikh freedom movement.
Last year although Sikhs were still not given free access to the European Parliament, alternative arrangements were made at London House and the Eastman Building in the EU Parliament for MEPs to address and meet Sikhs.
This year the Eastman Building was eventually provided, but only after Sikhs and MEPs caused disruption at the start of the day in the presence of the media. MEPs from the UK Independence Party (UKIP), including Tom Wise, Derek Clark, Gerard Batten and Michael Nattrass took the lead with this.
Sikhs met with, listened and asked questions of a number of MEPs in the Eastman Building including Derek Clark, Robert Evans, Baroness Sarah Ludford and Liz Lynne. However, the day finished with a sit down protest outside the European Parliament, which resulted in widespread media coverage, including on Central TV news. This year delegates not wearing the Kirpan were also denied entrance to Parliament and there was a strong feeling that direct action was necessary.
A number of MEPs, including Robert Evans, Liz Lynne, Derek Clark and Fiona Hall joined protesters, made speeches and gave media interviews.
Liz Lynne MEP, Vice-President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and member of the Human Rights Subcommittee, joined the protest with other MEPs and said, "This decision is outrageous. In the UK the right to wear the kirpan is enshrined in law, as it should be across the EU.
"Sikhs have made an outstanding contribution to the wealth and diversity of society . . . across Europe, and to treat EU citizens in this way is totally unjustified.
"I wrote last week to President Pöttering of the European Parliament hoping to ensure entrance for my constituents but to no avail. I now hope to lead a cross party campaign on this issue to ensure this discrimination cannot be allowed to continue here or anywhere else.
"The Sikh faith should be recognised throughout the EU, Kirpans are widely regarded as a religious symbol, not a threat, and to refuse entry to those wearing them is discrimination pure and simple."
On the role of the EU's anti-discrimination legislation in combating discrimination faced by Sikh's in the workplace, Liz added: "If we are to remove discrimination from all places of work across the EU, including this Parliament, we need to ensure the 2000 Employment Directive is properly implemented across Europe, something which many Member States have failed to do. I hope anyone who feels they have been discriminated against in the workplace finds the courage and support they need to take further action."
SIKH FREEDOM LOBBY IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SECURES DEBATE ON LINKING TRADE WITH INDIA WITH ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
Human rights violations have been a key theme of each of the last three Sikh Freedom Lobbies in the European Parliament. When addressing Sikhs in the Eastman Building Baroness Sarah Ludford, the Vice Chair of the Human Rights Sub Committee was asked about the failure of the European Union to challenge India on its human rights record.
Baroness Ludford left the lobby to return later to inform the Sikh Federation (UK) representatives that the Foreign Affairs Committee and Human Rights Sub Committee had agreed to consider India’s Human Rights record in October. The Sikh Federation (UK) was asked to arrange a European-wide delegation of Sikhs to attend the sub committee meeting.
The debate will seek to link trade with India with its human rights record. The EU is India's largest trading partner with about 25 percent of Indian exports coming to EU countries and also provides the most foreign investment to India. Last year two-way trade between India and the EU totalled about euro38 billion.
Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair Sikh Federation (UK), said: ‘this is an opportunity for Sikhs across Europe to demonstrate they can influence the 35 elected representatives on the human rights sub committee. It is time for Sikhs across Europe who have agreed to work with the Federation to take action. We will provide support and guidance to those in mainland Europe.’
The Sikh Federation (UK) working with Sikhs in other EU countries is targeting members on the human rights sub committee from 8 of the 27 EU countries that comprise 25 of the 35 members. These include the UK (5 members, including two vice-chairs), Italy (7 members), France (3 members, including the chair and one vice-chair), Spain (3 members), Germany, Belgium and Portugal (with 2 members each) and Greece (1 member).
SIKH FEDERATION (UK) TO SET UP ALL PARTY SIKH GROUP IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
UK MEPs have agreed to take the lead in setting up an All Party Sikh Group in the European Parliament that will champion Sikh causes. From early indications it will have at least 50 MEPs. The first issue they are taking up is the right of Sikhs to enter the European Parliament wearing their Kirpans.
The majority of MEPs will be from the UK, but the group is also expected to have MEPs from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The Federation is also in the process of setting up a European-wide Sikh Liaison Group that will work with the All Party Sikh Group.
Anyone interested in becoming a part of the European-wide Sikh Liaison Group from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden or the UK is urged to contact the Sikh Federation (UK) by emailing info@sikhfederation.com. Fluency in speaking and writing the relevant national language is essential.
