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Boston bombings: Sikh community in US concerned over backlash
The Indian Express ^ | Saturday, April 20, 2013 | PTI

Posted on 04/19/2013 9:49:05 PM PDT by Jyotishi

Washington - Sikh Americans expressed concern over the possible backlash against the community in the aftermath of the twin bomb blasts in Boston marathon early this week.

Having a bitter experience after 9/11 and a target of hate crime, Sikh leaders urged the community to be careful and vigilant against any violence directed against them.

"In the past, any terrorist action which resulted in American lives, have led to negative impact and violence on the Sikhs who are often targeted due to their conspicuous appearance," said Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education.

"Many Sikh places of worship have been vandalised and attacked in the aftermath of 9/11 and we fear that the Boston tragedy might trigger another wave of reaction against members of the Sikh community," Singh said.

"The Sikh community joins Americans of all backgrounds in expressing our profound condolences and sympathies to the people of Boston, and the participants of the Boston Marathon, after the horrific and tragic bomb attacks that killed and injured so many people," he said.

The Boston bombing, he said, has shocked the Sikh community which is still recovering from the attack at the Wisconsin Sikh Temple a few months ago.

"We feel the pain and suffering of the victims in Boston," Singh added.

"We are requesting everyone, Sikhs and Non-Sikhs, to come together and hold vigilance to show our resolve and solidarity with those killed and injured," said Inderpal Singh Gadh, chairman of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, a Sikh center in Rockville.

Sikh leaders said this is a time for the community to pull together.

"We are asking all members of the Sikh community to be vigilant. We are urging all Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) to review their security procedures and to be in contact with their local police departments, possibly to request additional patrols," he said.

Meanwhile, many mosques all over the US held special prayers services for the victims of the Boston terrorist bombings. The prayer services were held in congregation during the early yesterday afternoon Sabbath services.

"American Muslim leadership must break this cycle of terrorism, demonisation and more terrorism. Islamophobic media bashing and school bullying is making the Muslim students depressed and angry and a few can resort to violence," said Dr Shaik Ubaid, the New York Co-chair of Muslim Peace coalition USA.

"American foreign policy of waging unjustified war is also a major contributing factor. The Muslim leadership must put in place programs to teach American youth peaceful ways of showing dissent," he said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: boston; chechnya; india; islam; muslim; sikh; terrorism
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1 posted on 04/19/2013 9:49:05 PM PDT by Jyotishi
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To: Jyotishi

Rajwant Singh is a fake, phony fraud and a sellout, but he’s absolutely right on this.


2 posted on 04/19/2013 9:50:24 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Jyotishi

That’s Sikh.


3 posted on 04/19/2013 9:51:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: Jyotishi

Taking cues from Al Sharpton?


4 posted on 04/19/2013 9:52:00 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: TBP

He can always go back to the sick bay.


5 posted on 04/19/2013 9:57:16 PM PDT by tdscpa
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To: Jyotishi

I’ve never understand how anyone could confuse the two. You’d have to be REALLY stupid. But then again, look how many folks vote democRAT.


6 posted on 04/19/2013 9:59:11 PM PDT by Slump Tester (What if I'm pregnant Teddy? Errr-ahh -Calm down Mary Jo, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)
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To: Jyotishi

Who is more in danger of being attacked, a member of the Sikh religion in America, or anyone being white and in a black neighborhood, or in any area where a lot of blacks are present?


7 posted on 04/19/2013 9:59:26 PM PDT by ansel12 (The lefts most effective position-I'm libertarian on social issues, but conservative on economics.)
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To: Slump Tester

I was thinking the same...hard to mix up.


8 posted on 04/19/2013 10:00:38 PM PDT by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
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To: tdscpa

Are they Illegal? then bust em!
If not they are welcome to be Americans and live life!
Thats all Americans ask for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But you freakin immigrants give us death injury and strife!
Go the Blink home!


9 posted on 04/19/2013 10:01:31 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: editor-surveyor

After 9/11, there were numerous attacks on Sikhs by semi-literate people who thought they were Muslims. One Sikh gas station owner was murdered because of it.


11 posted on 04/19/2013 10:02:35 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Jyotishi
Murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi
September 15, 2001
12 posted on 04/19/2013 10:03:24 PM PDT by cynwoody
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To: LouAvul

The Sikhs are fine, loyal warriors. They hate moslems. They’re among the few who may enter the Queen’s presence with a weapon.

I’d rather have a Sikh covering my back that an uninformed bigoted troll.


13 posted on 04/19/2013 10:04:58 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: ansel12

Better yet. Go down to one of those Muslim neighborhoods in Dearborn Michigan and wear a t-shirt with a cross in front a see if you come out in one piece. This whining happened after 9-11 and the liberal press feeds on it like ravenous beasts.


14 posted on 04/19/2013 10:06:01 PM PDT by Lent
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To: Slump Tester

Most of my classmates back in HS (Canada) were Sikhs and Punjabis. Until today, we call and FB each other. I agree, You really have to be a moron to know the difference. And the I;m not making this up: the Sikhs/Punjabis WREAK OF CURRY. I swear it’s like they paint the walls of their houses with it. It took me years not to eat in an Indian resto..


15 posted on 04/19/2013 10:06:37 PM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company after the election, & laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: max americana

Curries are damned tasty!


16 posted on 04/19/2013 10:08:11 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
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To: Lent
Better yet. Go down to one of those Muslim neighborhoods in Dearborn Michigan and wear a t-shirt with a cross in front a see if you come out in one piece. This whining happened after 9-11 and the liberal press feeds on it like ravenous beasts.

Yours is a much better point/example.

17 posted on 04/19/2013 10:09:37 PM PDT by ansel12 (The lefts most effective position-I'm libertarian on social issues, but conservative on economics.)
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To: ansel12

How many Sikhs have been slaughtered in India at the hands of Muslims?


18 posted on 04/19/2013 10:13:34 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1, Half Baked 50c)
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To: Jyotishi

Not sure I buy their paranoia, but he’s right - it’d be a shame if this reflected in any way on the Sikhs, who, unlike the Moslems, are a peaceful, educated, positive, and sociable element in American society.


19 posted on 04/19/2013 10:14:09 PM PDT by Jack Hammer (American)
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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