SIKHS DEMAND IMMEDIATE APOLOGY FOR IRRESPONSIBLE AND OFFENSIVE USE OF THE TERM ‘SIKH TALIBAN’ BY BBC RADIO PRESENTER
has tried to justify his use of the term, that he incredibly continues to describe as a ‘metaphor’.
His comments reproduced below have been described as irresponsible and unacceptable by leading Sikh organisations. The BBC has started to receive complaints for what many have described as ‘shocking and disgraceful’ remarks.
An online petition of complaints to the BBC has also been launched due to the numbers wishing to complain:
In a press statement, the Sikh Federation UK stated –
There is no room for such language for law-abiding Sikhs and a term directly associated with an Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan that British armed forces have been confronting and laying down their lives. Condemnation of Bobby Friction from the British Sikh community has been swift and widespread.There are no excuses for causing offence by using the term ‘Taliban’ that not only reminds Sikhs of sacrifices of the Sikh Gurus at the hands of the Mughal emperors, but also verbal abuse, racist attacks and killings of innocent turban wearing Sikhs in more recent times since 9/11. It is flippant remarks like these that fuel calls for the BBC not to be funded through the licence fee.
The comment by Bobby Friction on Twitter follows his personal desire for Gurdwaras to allow people of different faiths to partake in an Anand Karaj (Sikh
religious wedding ceremony) and refusing to accept the Sikh Code of Conduct.
religious wedding ceremony) and refusing to accept the Sikh Code of Conduct.
The Code states: “Persons professing faiths other than the Sikh faith cannot be joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony.”
With an increasing number of interfaith marriages a further clarification on the Code of Conduct was issued in 2007 by the authorities in Amritsar that ruled an Anand Karaj can only be between two Sikhs.
Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations in the UK have made clear that if people of different faiths wish to marry they should partake in a civil rather than religious ceremony. If religion is important to one or both they can visit each other’s places of worship, offer prayers and as far as Gurdwaras are concerned organise a Langar (free food kitchen) in the Gurdwara.
Bobby Friction’s Twitter comment followed similar comments by Sunny Hundal, a freelance journalist and author who was quoted in the Independent on 12 August using the term ‘Taliban’ and ‘thugs’ to describe a small number of Sikhs who peacefully protested last week against an interfaith Anand Karaj in Southall. They have totally over reacted and taken advantage of a situation that involved no physical violence or arrests and for personal reasons and publicity.
Who ever might be the person Bobby Friction should be arrested put behind bars. This are the culprit Bobby Friction who makes a hatered to the community of Sikhs. Fights in the society are taken place with this only devil minded persons………
No room for Such comments on the bcc – this is totally disprespectful
The guys a twat
Do not make me sick with your cover ups. They were Sikh thugs who ruined somebodys happiest day. A true Sikh believes in One Human Race and would never do what those so called Sikh Thugs did.I have noticed certain sections of Sikh youth are being fundamental ., I can term this Talibanized, and The Sikh Federation are to blame. So as a proud Sikh I say if you want to remain fundamental , go and create your Khalistan near Iraq or Syria or in Canada and leave all the Sikhs I know in peace with the rest of humanity.
I agree with the comment below,these are Thugs who have no respect to Guru Granth Sahib.Your articles are very biased and are promoting the destruction of the Sikh religion and promoting extremism. Sikhs have not yet received any justice for the 1984 genocide ,the current issue of Baba Surat Singh and not even recovered the hand written Guru Granth Sahib. We need unity and support,these marriage issues are quite secondary and are deliberate policies to divert the main issues.
Sikh Codes and Conducts Are not Written by Booze Peddler DJ’S,IT comes from people who laid down their lives for the faith, it comes from GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI. Folks who don’t like Sikh code and conducts the they are free to marry in masque , church, lets see if they are allowed, Inderjit forgot to put Singh behind his name, That clearly tells me how much you really proud of being Sikh, In your point of view People who don’t agree with you they should leave UK, i got news for you mate, You don’t own England.