March 25, 2020, Washington, DC — The Center for Pluralism condemns the attack on the place of worship of the Sikh Community in Afghanistan.
In a time when the Sikh Community has become a shining example to the world by serving all people affected by the Corona Virus, it is sad that their place of worship is being attacked.
We had condemned identifying Sikhs in Afghanistan to harass them during the Taliban take over in the early ’90s.
The Sikhs have stood up for the rights of others, as well as helping the downtrodden and oppressed people around the world. During the Shaheen Bagh sit-outs, they provided food and water to the protestors. And now while Corona is raging in India, the Sikhs are out on the road, disinfecting cars, scooters, business and dropping of Rice and Dal bags to the needy.
The Sikh community was recognized for the example they set in dealing with the tragedy in Wisconsin.
Here are a few of the many pictures that the Center for Pluralism was involved with the Sikh community over the years
March 25, 2020, Washington, DC — The Center for Pluralism condemns the attack on the place of worship of the Sikh Community in Afghanistan.
In a time when the Sikh Community has become a shining example to the world by serving all people affected by the Corona Virus, it is sad that their place of worship was attacked instead of protecting it.
We had condemned the acts of the Taliban during their take over in the early 90’s when they started identifying Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan to harass them.
The Sikhs have stood up for the rights of others, as well as helping the downtrodden and oppressed people around the world, we must appreciate them for their acts of kindness. During the Shaheen Bagh sit-outs, they provided food and water to the protestors. And now while Corona is raging in India, the Sikhs are out on the road, disinfecting cars, scooters, business, and dropping of Rice and Dal bags to the needy. In Washington DC, they have announced that they will be serving food to the disabled and seniors within a 50 miles radius.
The Center for Pluralism recognized the Sikh community in a large gathering of six mayors and who is who of Dallas, Texas, in the Unity Day event. The Sikh community set an example in dealing with the tragedy in Wisconsin by prayers and not revenge or anger.
Here are a few of the many pictures that the Center for Pluralism was involved with the Sikh community over the years.
We had condemned identifying Sikhs in Afghanistan to harass them during the Taliban take over in the early ’90s.
The Sikhs have stood up for the rights of others, as well as helping the downtrodden and oppressed people around the world. During the Shaheen Bagh sit-outs, they provided food and water to the protestors. And now while Corona is raging in India, the Sikhs are out on the road, disinfecting cars, scooters, business and dropping of Rice and Dal bags to the needy.
The Sikh community was recognized for the example they set in dealing with the tragedy in Wisconsin.
Here are a few of the many pictures that the Center for Pluralism was involved with the Sikh community over the years
- Sikhs honored – https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157631762797919/show/?rb=1
- Unity Day with Sikhs – http://911unitydayusa.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html
- Sikh Genocides Commemoration – http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com/2013/01/6th-annual-holocaust-and-genocides-sikh_23.html
- Sikh Genocide pictures – https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeghouse/sets/72157636856041595/
We request the Afghan Government and the United States governments to find the attackers and punish them according the laws of the nation. We further request that all places of worship are protected and values of respecting the otherness of the other are taught.
God bless the Sikh community
Mike Ghouse, President
Center for Pluralism
Here is the story.
New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/world/asia/afghanistan-sikh-kabul.html
BBC – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52029571
Gunmen attack Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital
Courtesy of Religion News Service
Afghan security forces had blocked off the area and were taking on the attackers, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said in a message to journalists.
It was not immediately clear how many attackers there were or who they were. It was not known if there were any casualties.
Sikhs have been the target of attack by Islamist militants before in South Asia. A Taliban spokesman, in a message on Twitter, denied responsibility for the attack.
Narender Singh Khalsa, a member of parliament who represents the tiny Sikh community, said he had reports that four people had been killed and up to 200 people trapped inside the temple in the early morning attack.
“Three suicide bombers entered a dharamsala,” he said, referring to a sanctuary area in a temple compound.
“The gunmen started their attack at a time when the dharamsala was full of worshippers,” he said.
He said the Afghan security forces were clashing with the attackers.
The attack comes a day after the United States said it would cut its aid to the government by $1 billion over frustrations that feuding political leaders could not reach an agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban.
The Interior Ministry spokesman said Afghan security forces had cleared one floor of the complex and were moving slowly to try and avoid civilian casualties.
Sikhs are a small religious minority in Afghanistan with numbers fewer than 300 families.
In 2018, a suicide bombing targeting the Sikh community and claimed by the Islamic State militant group killed more than a dozen people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.
The United States last month struck a deal with the Taliban on the withdrawal of U.S.-led international troops but the agreement does not include Islamic State militants.
Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi; writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Kim Coghill, Robert BirselOur Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.