Tan Dhesi MP for Slough put in a series of Parliamentary Questions to the Foreign and Home Office, asking the UK Government what steps they were taking to ensure the protection of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. Mr Dhesi also asked if the British Government would offer asylum and refugee status to Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan so that they can escape from religious persecution.
In a statement he told the Asian Voice, “Last week a suicide bombing in the Afghan city of #Jalalabad at killed 19 people, most of them from the country's minority Sikh and Hindu communities. Among those killed was the only Sikh Member of Parliament elect, Mr Awtar Singh Khalsa. Reports suggest that it was a deliberate and planned attack and specifically intended to eliminate the entire leadership of Afghan minority communities.
"On Monday, I wrote to the Foreign Office and the Home Office to ask what steps they were taking to ensure the safety of the minority communities in Afghanistan and provide refuge and asylum to those facing persecution back home. I have now received (on Friday) the replies to my Parliamentary questions and will continue to raise these concerns at the highest level.”
This came after 19 people died after a suicide attack in Jalalabad. The MP also wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, asking if he would make representations to his Afghan counterpart on the assassination of MP elect Awtar Singh Khalsa and also on the safety of political candidates from minority communities in Afghanistan.
Mark Field, the Minister of State said, “The British government regularly raises human rights issues with the Government of Afghanistan, including the need to protect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups in line with the constitution.”
Caroline Nokes, The Minister for Immigration said, “we have a proud history of providing protection for those who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention. All asylum claims lodged in the UK are carefully considered on their individual merits and where someone establishes a well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm in their country, they are normally granted protection and are not expected to return there.”
In a letter to the Britain's Foreign Secretary, six MPs have sought to seek an urgent update on what action the UK Government is taking to support an investigation into terror bombing of Sikh Delegation in Jalalabad. It has been signed by Seema Malhotra MP, Preet Gill MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Rupa Huq MP, Ruth Cadbury MP and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP.
The letter also called for a meeting between the Sikh community and the Secretary to discuss what actions are being undertaken with the Afghan Government to guarantee the safety of minority communities.
Seema Malhotra MP raised the issue with Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
