"We do not tolerate intimidation or threats to life"
Security Minister Dan Jarvis warned that the UK won’t tolerate attempts by foreign countries to harass British citizens, after several Sikhs complained they were being targeted either by or on behalf of the Indian government.
Mr Jarvis wrote to the Sikh Federation after harassment reports involving British Sikhs.
This included people being stopped at UK airports and asked about their views on Punjab.
Mr Jarvis also urged the Indian Government to cooperate with Canada’s investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who Canada believes was killed on orders of the Indian Government.
In a letter dated December 10, 2024, Mr Jarvis wrote:
“We do not tolerate intimidation or threats to life, and through our intelligence agencies and police forces will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to keep people safe.
“Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated.
“We take the findings from the Canadian investigations very seriously and the UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system.
“All countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, and we encourage all involved parties, including the government of India, to cooperate with the legal process.”
British Sikhs have alleged that much of the harassment has centred on their views over whether Sikhs should have their own homeland in India – called Khalistan.
The Khalistan movement has been one of India’s main security concerns.
But in recent years, attention has turned to the Sikh diaspora in the UK and North America.
Activist Avtar Singh Khanda had complained about being harassed over the phone by Indian police, before he suddenly died in June 2023.
Community leaders said British Sikhs are increasingly being stopped at UK airports and questioned about their views on India under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Labour MP Preet Gill has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, expressing her concern about the treatment of British Sikhs.
She highlighted the case of one man who was stopped and questioned about Sikhism, Partition and Nijjar’s death.
In her letter, Ms Gill said: “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.”
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