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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  As ongoing events reveal, this is a large problem in our community and together, we need to bring about a change in our culture.  The following is an "Open Letter" to the Sikh community from the Hisaydars of the Jakara Movement.

If this is something you too support and wish to show your solidarity, please consider signing below and downloading our FB and IG images and sharing with your friends.  We are hoping to help kickstart a conversation in our community.  When signing, if you share your address, we will send you information about upcoming events we are holding on the topic.  Together, we are the movement.

The letters with signatures can be found below - here is the text of the letter:

 

An Open Letter to the Sikh Community:

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Dear Sangat Ji:

Sexual grooming is often a topic of conversation in the Sikh community.  British Sikhs are frequently at the forefront of raising this issue, especially with regards to the actions of some Muslim men.  However, there is a type of grooming that is far more common yet never spoken of - the sexual abuse, assault, and grooming that occurs within our own community.

Our message is addressed to two audiences: 1) those that have been threatened, shamed, or guilted into silence after suffering this sort of abuse; 2) an apathetic community that prefers silence over confronting perpetrators.

To those that have endured such crimes, we are with you. You are loved and you are not alone. You have a voice and you have our support. The Jakara Movement condemns the abusers who, no matter what their appearance, must be punished along with the silent consent that makes this abuse possible. Dismissing charges of abuse with responses like, “they [victims] are trying to make the community look bad” or “this is what all parchaaraks (preachers) face” are little more than excuses and attempts to cover up the crime. There are far too many of us that have experienced this sort of violence; together we can make our voices a thunder. In a community that too often sides with the perpetrators, we put the burden of responsibility upon the accused and stand in solidarity with all that have been made to suffer.  

Sangat ji, our silence when we hear of these crimes makes us complicit.  If we hold our sidhaanth (principles) and love for niyao (justice) above personal loyalties, then we are fulfilling the mission of our Guru. Guru Nanak rejected Sri Chand for an egotistical vision; Guru Gobind Singh forgave Mahan Singh and the Chali Mukte for fulfilling their original vow.

When we idolize the personalities of power, we are committing the worst type of buth-prasti (idol-worship). The Gurus were buth-shikan (idol-destroyers) and freed us from this influence.  It is not a person’s status, but the person’s practices that make them worthy of prestige. However, if we learn that these people have abused that prestige and have abused their power, especially to take advantage of others, then we have a duty to stand for the victim. We cannot allow the fear of scandal to silence the most marginalized and the least powerful who have already been stripped of voice within the community. As a sangat we must rise in challenging patriarchal cultures, including our own.

The greatest gift the Guru has given us is a voice and the courage to use it, even against popular positions of apathy. We are sovereign: mind, body and, spirit. As a community which prides itself on its dedication to justice, its proud heritage of those who spoke truth to power, we must continue to rekindle this spirit within us everyday. The Guru sits on a throne of justice, and answers the calls of those who call out. The Jakara Movement is here to call out and give voice to the voiceless. We urge each local sangat to do the same.

In solidarity and with eternal optimism (chardi kala),

 

The Hisaydars of the Jakara Movement


Amandeep Kaur
Amrit Kaur
Aneeta Kaur
Ikagar Singh
Jasdeep Singh
Jasleen Kaur
Jaskiranjot Kaur
Manbeer Singh
Naindeep Singh
Navneet Kaur
Ramandeep Kaur
Ravneet Kaur
Sarina Kaur
Taranamol Kaur

 

 

 

letter.jpg

 

In Scribd for sharing: 

 

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For Facebook:

Open_Letter_-_Facebook_(1).jpg

  

For Instagram:

Open_Letter_-_Instagram_(1).png

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Showing 36 reactions

  • kulwant singh
    signed 2024-04-12 09:55:07 -0700
  • Omair Farooqui
    signed 2024-04-11 12:22:53 -0700
  • kulwant singh
    followed this page 2021-06-04 19:30:50 -0700
  • harleen dhillon
    signed 2017-08-25 19:25:34 -0700
  • Baljinder Bains
    signed 2017-08-25 17:10:02 -0700
  • Sarbjeet Shokar
    signed 2016-04-28 09:37:52 -0700
    Thank you for taking the initiative in bringing to light this important elephant in the room.
  • Basant Kaur
    signed 2016-04-12 11:06:33 -0700
  • Sarbdeep Singh
    signed 2015-05-06 23:41:53 -0700
  • Nindeh Kaur
    signed 2015-05-05 17:32:45 -0700
  • Sarjit Kaur
    signed 2015-05-02 12:08:34 -0700
    I am a victim by my daughter is who have suffered emotionally.
  • Amandeep Nijjar
    signed 2015-04-30 00:47:12 -0700
  • Aziz Athwal
    signed 2015-04-29 11:39:04 -0700
  • Perveen Mann
    signed 2015-04-26 13:01:13 -0700
  • Gurpreet Kaur
    signed 2015-04-25 17:52:13 -0700
  • Nav Kaur
    signed 2015-04-15 22:40:00 -0700
    My uncle was a family doctor in Peel in the South Asian & Sikh community in the 80s & 90s before moving away. He believed there was rampant sexual abuse of children in our community. He wouldn’t let any relatives stay with them & was very careful who their children were around. He taught his kids the facts when they asked as young children where babies come from. He believed children needed to know to protect themselves. Ignorance is harmful.
  • Sukhveer Sandhu
    signed 2015-04-13 13:59:17 -0700
  • Amandeep Singh
    signed 2015-04-11 22:12:24 -0700
    Waheguru jio


    we are a team of skilled social workers , based on SIKH values and Principal of KHALASA. We are just growing in this filed and trying to do some for community as we as society. I am happy to see your dedication and efforts. We are always with you for such a good causes.


    Dehh Shiva VARR MOHEY EHH HAI

    SUBHK Karman TEY KABHOO NA TARRO……
  • Manjot Singh
    signed 2015-04-11 12:13:25 -0700
  • Rashi Khangura
    signed 2015-04-10 07:25:43 -0700
  • Gagan Gill-Bhadare
    signed 2015-04-08 23:22:58 -0700
  • Dilraj Kaur
    signed 2015-04-08 19:35:30 -0700
    Great initiative!
  • Pavan Athwal
    signed 2015-04-08 14:46:37 -0700
  • Sim Singh
    signed 2015-04-08 14:10:09 -0700
    Extremely proud to be a small part of this great organization.
  • Kair Singh
    signed 2015-04-05 14:32:57 -0700
  • Jasminder Dhaliwal
    signed 2015-04-04 17:38:09 -0700
  • Navpreet Sandher
    signed 2015-04-04 16:05:36 -0700
  • Maninder Kaur
    signed 2015-04-03 17:06:13 -0700
  • Inderpreet Kaur Sagoo
    signed 2015-04-03 12:23:36 -0700
  • Jaskaran Ensaaf
    signed 2015-04-02 17:47:27 -0700
  • Amrita Bamrah
    signed 2015-04-02 15:57:22 -0700
    Thank you Jakara Movement.