On Friday, November 13, Paris, France came under attack. Small groups of terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State in Syria opened fire and detonated suicide bombs killing and wounding unsuspecting civilians. The world stood still, witnessing these atrocities and sending messages of solidarity to the French people.
SikhNet and the global Sikh community stand with the innocent. No person who believes in the compassion of the Creator can call these actions “religious.” Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of all who have died, or been wounded as well as to all the communities affected.
The attacks in Paris brought other acts of terrorism into the spotlight. Especially an attack which took place on Thursday, November 12 in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 43 people and injuring dozens.
Candles are lit during a vigil in Place de la Republique, Paris Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Please Be Vigilant
For the Sikh community, these moments of terrorism also constitute an attack on the Sikh identity. Too often people confuse Sikhs with terrorists even though our values, along with our turban and beard, actually represent the complete opposite of what the terrorists stand for.
In the aftermath of these attacks, we request all those in the Sikh community to take extra care and be alert to the possibility of potential backlash. Please exercise caution in the days ahead.
If you experience any threats or violence, please notify your local law enforcement. We also encourage you to reach out to Sikh organizations in your local country to report threats or violence against Sikhs.
Police officer Mandeep Singh, 30 handing out food parcels to people staying at a Calais refugee camp. Picture: Singh Sabha London East
Be Visible In Service to your Community
As the spectre of global terrorism continues to grow, one of the most effective ways we can defend the Sikh identity is to be even more visible doing service in larger communities. Please find ways to get together with your friends and family and do some type of seva in the neighborhoods and cities where you live. That touch of service, along with our smiling faces, simply explaining to people who the Sikhs are in a grassroots way, is one of the most powerful tools we have to build bridges of understanding.
Please feel free to share the "Who are the Sikhs" page with your wider community.
SikhNet has just completed the first in a series of six global Sahaj Paaths involving readers from many countries. As we plan more Sahaj Paaths in the weeks ahead, our prayers will extend to all those who have suffered and died in the senseless violence that has begun to affect so many places around the world.
May the Guru’s Light guide and protect all humanity.
