Latest: UK agree to India demands to extradite Sikhs for “death sentence”

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On 21 December it was revealed that the UK Home Office had agreed to extradite three Sikh men, born and raised in England, to India, where they may face the death penalty. This move is based on charges for a 2009 crime levelled against them by the Indian state on a case which they have previously been investigated and subsequently cleared for. The trial date for the case is Sept 22-24, with a mass protest planned for the opening day. Read our timeline on this situation below.

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22.09.21

Case against #WestMidlands3 dropped

The case against the #WestMidlands3 was dropped today after approximately 90minutes of the first hearing. Read more-
https://www.sikhpa.com/crown-prosecution-service-drops-case-against-the-westmidlands3/

21.09.21

5 Things to Know before the #WestMidlands3 Trial

Sikh PA Senior Press Officer detailed five important pieces of information to know before tomorrow’s trial hearing starts.

Read-https://www.baaznews.org/p/five-things-west-midland-three-trial

13.09.21

Corbyn responds to #WestMidlands3

Former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn responded to a Sikh PA question about the #WestMidlands3 by committing to raising the issue in UK parliament.

Corbyn was questioned by Sikh PA Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh during an international #FarmersProtest virtual conference, which Corbyn and fellow Labour party MP Claudia Webbe took part in.

Webbe, who had previously connected with her local Leicester constituents about the issue, supported Corbyn’s pledge to raise the issue further. Corbyn also stated he would be raising the issue of those that were arrested and subsequently “disappeared” (likely murdered by police) whilst taking part in the farmers protest in India.

10.09.21

Petition released calling for UK-India extradition treaty to be revoked

A petition calling for the UK-India extradition treaty to be revoked has been released, prior to the #WestMidlands3 trial hearing which could see three British Sikhs face the death penalty in India.

See the petition at-
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/596150.

04.09.21

National Panthic Conference sees resolutions announced

A national panthic (Sikh community/path focused) conference saw hundreds of Sikhs gather regarding the upcoming extradition of three British Sikhs this month.

The event saw five resolutions announced regarding the situation, which include a mandate for all Gurdwaras to contact local MPs to address the situation, a ban on all Indian govt officials from attending Sikh spaces in a working capacity, and the potential for that ban to be extended to the Conservative Party of the UK should the extradition go through. Read more via Unsaid Digital-
https://www.unsaiddigital.com/national-panthic-conference-support-west-midlands-3/

27.08.21

MP letter template released for #Westmidlands3 case

Find the template at sikhhumanrights.com.

18.02.21

News of another extradition attempt breaks

Read-
https://www.sikhpa.com/india-fail-in-attempt-to-extradite-british-sikh/

03.02.21

51 Sikh orgs hold a meeting on extradition case

Sikh PA were part of a UK Sikh community meeting on the #UKSikhExtradition situation, where the UK have agreed to extradite three British Sikhs to India, where they will face the death penalty.

With internationally renowned human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce leading insight into the case, 51 different Sikh organisations agreed to support further action on the issue, including raising it in UK parliament.

Read the letter released about the meet below.

22.01.21

Date for extradition hearing announced

*NOTE- After this update the date has since been changed to a three day trial from September 22nd-24th.

Yesterday it was announced that the three UK Sikhs facing extradition to the UK have been given a date for a court hearing on the case.

The SikhHumanRights.com, a collective of Sikh orgs overseeing the case, announced that a hearing date had been set for 20 September 2021. The announcement came after a case management meeting between all sides involved in the issue today. During the meeting the UK Sikhs were represented by famed human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce, who is currently defending world famous whistleblower Julian Assange from extradition from the UK to the USA. The team is also being legally supported by the Sikh Legal Assistance Board, who are the defence team of Jagtar Singh Johal of the #FreeJaggiNow.

28.12.20

Latest statement from the three Sikhs facing extradition

The following is a statement shared verbatim that was released by community group Sikh Youth UK via the three Sikhs involved in the ongoing extradition case (more info below):

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh

First and foremost, we would like to thank Sri Guru Granth Saihib Ji Maharaj for the countless blessings they have bestowed on us and our families.

The love and support all three of our families have received from Gurdwara’s, Sikh Organisations, Sikh Politicians and the Sikh Sangat, both in the UK and abroad has been immense and for this we are eternally grateful.

This year we have witnessed how the Indian government has tried to crush the Sikhs in Panjab by destroying their livelihoods. The sight of peaceful protesters being brutally attacked by the Indian Police with water cannons, tear gas and batons reminds us of how India oppresses our people.

This is the same system that is utilising all their machinery to demonise the Sikh community. We have seen in recent weeks how these efforts have been stepped up against any one who highlights or raises their voices against persecution and oppression by the Indian government. The Indian media is repeatedly vilifying Sikhs throughout the world simply because we use democratic means to demand our rights.

The UK Home Office have bowed down to Modi’s demands to extradite us to India in exchange for trade deals. This all despite the inevitability that we will face torture, injustice and ultimately the death penalty.

This extradition is an attempt by the Modi regime to silence the voices of Sikhs abroad.

But with the support of the Sadh Sangat we will fight the extradition to India.

Although the last week has been difficult for our families as our mothers, wives and children were treated in an unjust manner, we still remain in Chardi Kala.

Sikh Human Rights (www.SikhHumanRights.com) have been appointed by us as the single point of contact for all of our official communication and updates.

The Sikh Legal Assistance Board will facilitate all legal matters relating to our case.

We do a humble benti to the Sadh Sangat to do an Ardas that may the Panth remain victorious.

We realise that this is going to be a prolonged fight for justice however if we have Guru Sahib on our side then we cannot lose.

“Jis De Hovai Val,
So Kadai Na Haar Da”
One who has Vaheguru on his side, cannot lose
(Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji Maharaj)

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28.12.20

Head of UK’s biggest Gurdwara calls for “urgent dialogue” with Priti Patel

Gurmail Singh Malhi is the head of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara committee. Southall Singh Sabha Gurdwaras are considered arguably the biggest Gurdwaras (based on number of attendees) outside of India. Hear what Malhi had to say here- https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3303969339730971.

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Original article posted on 24.12.20-
In news that will shock many, three British Sikhs were arrested and put up for extradition to India by the UK Home Office, where they could face the death penalty.

The arrests were made in the early hours of 21 December. The three Sikh men (who we will not name) had their homes raided by West Midlands Police based on extradition warrants issued on behalf of India “signed by the UK home secretary” Priti Patel.

The news was broken by community group Sikh Youth UK, whom are helping the families involved during this period. The group released the following statement yesterday (23 December) evening:

The men, all of whom are under 40, married with children and were born and raised in England, were taken to London’s Westminster Magistrate court after the arrests, where UK extradition hearings take place. The trio are currently home under strict conditions after being forced to pay bail fees or be forced to remain in category B prisons. Further hearings are pending as they fight the extradition.

The arrests relate to the 2009 murder of Rulda Singh, a senior member of the notorious right-wing nationalist Hindutva extremist group the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), who was shot in Patiala, Punjab and died a week after the attack. The RSS have been described by Western media as “a violent right-wing organization that promotes Hindu supremacy” but remain a prominent group of influence in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a long history in the RSS, a group that are linked with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

According to the legal team of those arrested, the extradition warrants were signed by Home Secretary Priti Patel whilst her Conservative Party colleague Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was still in India for discussion with Indian officials on an “Enhanced Trade Partnership”. The arrests came just days after Raab had returned from the visit. Priti Patel, of Hindu Gujarati background just like Modi, has openly declared her support for the RSS and their role in Modi’s “vision for success”.

The RSS are known for their alleged involvement in not just religiously incited crimes against minorities, but also known to be involved in India’s seedy underworld of crime. In 2017 a notorious underworld figure of Punjab confessed to killing an RSS leader, even saying the crime “shouldn’t be linked to religion”. The accusations of the British Sikh men’s involvement in the killing of this RSS figure have previously been investigated by British authorities. Previously these investigations have led to nothing of substance found in the case against the men. It remains unclear why accusations about this 11-year-old crime have now been acted upon by the UK authorities, led by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Many in the Sikh community are concerned about the push for extradition, as it is believed this unprecedented move against British Sikhs could leave possibly thousands more Sikhs left vulnerable to extradition based on activism against human rights abuses in India and the subsequent criminalisation of Sikh dissent by the Indian state. Many believe a fair trial in India is impossible for Sikhs, with the example of Jagtar (“Jaggi”) Singh Johal given. The Scottish Sikh has currently spent over three years arbitrarily detained in India, without any progress in his trial, despite claims by Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder that the killings of two RSS figures were now solved due to his arrest in November 2017.

The case of Balbir Singh, the highly respected Sikh community figure that founded humanitarian charity Sikh Relief, also leaves questions as to the ethics of agreeing to extradite the Sikh men to India. In 1999 Balbir Singh, a British citizen, was arrested in India and linked to terror related offences. After nearly three years of imprisonment, evidence against Balbir Singh was finally presented in court, only for the case to immediately fall apart, with the presiding judge calling the charges against him “a balloon of falsehoods”.

Both Jaggi and Balbir reported being tortured by police during their incarcerations, which India’s police are notorious for. Questions are being raised about both the ethics and legality of the Home Office allowing the extradition of Brits to a country where the judicial process is viewed by many as flawed, where torture is commonplace and the death penalty may be enforced.

In a statement shared exclusively with The Sikh Press Association, the family said:

“We are in chardi kala (ever rising spirits) and will fight the extradition to hindustan with the help of the Panth (Sikh path/community). We thank Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj for all their blessings and the Sadh Sangat (Holy Sikh congregation) for their continuing support in this matter.”

Updates on this story will provided as soon as possible.