Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

British Sikhs questioned about India at UK airports: Preet Gill

Gill said several Sikhs contacted her about these incidents, which allegedly involve questions on Sikhism, the partition of India, and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. (Photo: Getty Images)

Preet-Gill-Getty

Gill has written to home secretary Yvette Cooper to highlight cases where British Sikhs have reported being subjected to lengthy questioning and inappropriate treatment upon re-entering the UK. (Photo: Getty Images)

BRITISH Sikhs are being questioned about their views on India when stopped at UK airports, raising concerns about potential influence from the Indian government, according to Labour MP Preet Gill.

Gill, a prominent Sikh in parliament, has written to home secretary Yvette Cooper to highlight cases where British Sikhs have reported being subjected to lengthy questioning and inappropriate treatment upon re-entering the UK, The Guardian reported.


Gill said several Sikhs contacted her about these incidents, which allegedly involve questions on Sikhism, the partition of India, and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

In one instance, a man returning from a family holiday in Turkey was detained at Manchester Airport for hours and questioned on his beliefs and Nijjar’s death.

Gill noted that the man was “roughly handled” and that an officer attempted to remove his turban, a significant religious symbol, the newspaper reported.

In her letter to the home secretary, Gill wrote, “The anecdotal evidence I have gives me cause for concern, that law-abiding Sikhs are being targeted, and that they are being subjected to inappropriate questioning that centres on their identity and religious beliefs, for no apparent reason.” She added that these practices leave Sikhs feeling victimised and unsafe.

The concerns come amid a growing diplomatic row between India and Canada over Nijjar’s killing, which Ottawa has linked to Indian officials. Delhi has historically been wary of the Sikh nationalist movement, Khalistan, and has expressed concerns about its activities within the Sikh diaspora.

Sikh community leaders in the UK claim the use of Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 has increased against British Sikhs, allowing authorities to question individuals without suspicion.

Gurpreet Singh Anand, president of the Khalsa Jatha British Isles gurdwara in London, said those detained are often asked for mobile phones and social media passwords, The Guardian reported. He added, “They are asked very broad questions like: what are your views on Khalistan and India?”

Gill stated, “The specific and unusual line of questioning at multiple airports gives me cause for concern that this is part of a concerted strategy to target Sikhs.”

More For You

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

Wes Streeting addresses the Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28),joined by Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Vikram Doraiswami

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

WES STREETING spoke of the priority prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government attach to relations with India when he addressed a Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28).

But the secretary of state for health and social care won over the large Indian crowd by paying an unexpected tribute to Rishi Sunak.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

Gautam Adani

Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

SRI LANKA’S government started talks with India’s Adani Group to lower the cost of power from two wind power projects the group will build in the island nation’s northern province, the cabinet spokesman said last Tuesday (28).

Sri Lanka has been reviewing the group’s local projects after US authorities in November accused billionaire founder Gautam Adani and other executives of being part of a scheme to pay bribes to secure Indian power supply contracts. Adani has denied the allegations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

Kemi Badenoch delivers speech on January 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

CONSERVATIVE PARTY on Thursday (6) proposed a clampdown on all migrants by tightening citizenship rules and barring social benefit claimants from residency rights.

Kemi Badenoch, who took over from Rishi Sunak in November last year, outlined her first major policy agenda as Tory leader in a move seen as an attempt to win back the support of Conservative voters drawn to the far-right anti-immigrant Reform party.

Keep ReadingShow less
New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices
Sajid Javid

New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices

A NEW independent commission to improve cohesion would engage across all nations and regions of the UK by moving beyond Westminster-centric discussions and include more diverse voices, the director of British Future thinktank has said.

Sunder Katwala said building confidence across different groups will be a priority, as economic pressures and tensions due to Middle East conflict have polarised communities in the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yarl’s-Wood-detention-centre-Getty

In 2018, she was detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre after being told she would be deported. (Photo: Getty Images)

Court awards £100,000 to Pakistani asylum seeker over unlawful detention

A PAKISTANI asylum seeker has been awarded nearly £100,000 after a UK court ruled that she was unlawfully detained and subjected to breaches of her rights by the Home Office.

Nadra Almas, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2004, overstayed after her visa expired. She argued that returning to Pakistan would put her at risk as a Christian.

Keep ReadingShow less