Amid news of sexual abuse within the Sikh community in the UK, Kaur Movement UK tweeted: “The grim exposure of “Bhai” Sukha Singh abusing *9 men* is the tip of a decades-old iceberg. For years, there has been a collective suppression, avoidance and extreme gaslighting of victims and their experiences (something we have seen evidence of with Derby Rape Case).” They also tweeted about challenging Gurudwaras that according to Kaur Movement UK, “cover-up abuse”.
Rupinder Kaur from Asian Women Mean Business took to Instagram and said in a video, “I joined Twitter spaces about some of the allegations that have been made in this picture. I listened to that conversation for about three hours. And what I heard, left me deeply shocked, left me heartbroken. And I just felt so sad that we, as a community have fundamentally failed to help the victims. I just want to make it really clear that we fundamentally support any organisation that is supporting the victims. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, we support you, we hear you, we believe.
“Some of the stories that were shared yesterday boiled my blood and how have we allowed ourselves to get into this position where victims are not being believed victims are being shamed, where victims are being told, oh, no, that didn't happen. You must have misunderstood the situation that is fundamentally incorrect and wrong at every level. And it's so important. It's never been more important than it has been now, I think but anyone that believes the victims for anyone that supports them to come forward and say, we believe you, we support you, we're here for you.”
Female-led professional support service with 40+ years sector experience for domestic and sexual abuse in the Sikh & Panjabi Community, Sikh Women’s Aid tweeted: “What we find so frightening is, that if all the women, men and children in our community came out and exposed their perpetrators, faith leaders, music artists and business leaders, we would no longer be viewed as a giving, caring community. All because our people have been consumed with lust, greed and power. We are heartbroken to hear the horrendous stories of our brothers and sisters and of our children, all who have been silenced by parents, family members, the community and the panth. Well, we won’t be silenced anymore. Our Humanity is more important than your shame and honour and we will expose those that perpetuate and abuse their power.”
The Sikh Women’s Aid is organising a conference on 23 November to discuss ‘Prevalence and impact of domestic and sexual abuse in the Sikh/Panjabi Community. They will also be presenting their findings from a report that evidences the prevalence and impact of domestic and sexual abuse in the Sikh/Panjabi Community across all settings. There will also be an opportunity to hear about lived experiences of those that responded to the survey. This conference, perhaps the first of its kind in England, will look to gather both grassroots community and sector voices around the impact and barriers faced by Sikh/Panjabi victims of abuse in the UK. The conference is also taking place to mark both the Janam Divas (birthday) of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji - the founder of Sikhi and the International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
