SOPW

(Posted on behalf of Jatha Shaheedan - http://jathashaheedan.com/) Kabir,marta marta jagg muaa,marr bhi naajaaney koye, Aisimarni jo marrey,bahur naa marna hoye. Kabir,the world is dying – dying to death, but no one knows how to truly die. Whoeverdies, let him die such a death, that he does not have to die again On the 26th December, the Sikh Nation remembers ShaheedSahibzade Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh ji. Their sacrifices then, teach us today; to stand againstOppression, that death on ones feet is preferable to living on ones knees. They accepted the brutal death of being bricked alive ina wall (death by suffocation) over turning their back on the Guru, and thePanth. Jatha Shaheedan invites all UK Sangat to attend theSanjha Shaheedi Samagaam in honour of the Shaheedi Divas of Shaheed Baba ZorawarSingh and Shaheed Baba Fateh Singh. In memory of these Mahaan Shaheeds there will be keertan,Katha (English) and Dhadhi, as well as literature to highlight how theirsacrifice can inspire us today to stand up and fight for Freedom, Justice andthe Chardi kala of the Panth. Keertan by Bhai Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, Bhai Kulbir Singh(DDT), Mata Sahib Kaur Academy, Bhai Jagpal Singh Kanpuri Lecture by Bhai Kuljeet Singh (Leicester) Kavishr by Jagowale Sunday 26th December 2010, 5pm till 10:15pm, Siri Guru Singh Sabha Southall

SOPW has written to The French Govt and the UK Foreign Sec, sadly to no avail or response. Until Sikhs themselves take up this cause no one else will care.

"Babbar Khalsa" Can you please clarify your comment

SOPW has launched a Campaign help expedite the release of Bhai Pal Singh as soon as possible, please email us if you wish to volunteer and we will keep you notified of any proposed events.

Pal Singh, a French Sikh citizen, has been kept in custody for a number of months. The Punjab Police has been been making contradictory statements, but have presented nothing of substance against Pal Singh. Pal singh is very well known for his social humanitarian projects, from which the latest was helping youth in Punjab who are affected by drug abuse. He us also a well known TV and Radio personality. As a NRI, he specifically came to Punjab to use his skills to improve the lives of local people. However he has been arrested in dubious circumstances by Punjab Police. He has now been moved by various police stations from city to city. Recently has was taken on a 2-3 hour drive to Amritsar to a compound infamous with torture. Attempts by family members and friends of Pal Singh to visit him have been denied, and they fear the authorities are continuing to torture him. The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare request the Punjab Police to stop denying access to family members. In a democracy, Pal singh should be given access to his legal representatives. Pal Singh's daughter recently stated, “My father is completely innocent and we fear that he is being badly tortured. I ask the authorities to stop denying access to my father. ” The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare (SOPW) Info@prisonerwelfare.com www.prisonerwelfare.com Registered Charity No. 1125370 To support our work: http://www.justgiving.com/sopw

SOPW Press Release 8/11/2010 Give them the light at the end of the tunnel The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare (SOPW) wishes the Panth and all of humanity had a very happy and prosperous Bandi Chor/ Diwali. It is at this time of year that it is particularly poignant that on this "Day of Freedom/Emancipation" we remember those illuminated individuals who themselves do not yet enjoy the fruits of liberty many of us do. It was on this day that 52 Hindu princes were by the Grace of Sri Guru Hargobind Ji released from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir's Gwalior Fort (Madhya Pradesh, India). It was for this reason Sikhs celebrate Bandi (prison) Chor (release) - Guru Sahib Ji was offered freedom but refused unless the other princes, who it must be remembered were today's equivalent of political prisoners / prisoners of conscience, were released also. Emperor Jahangir cleverly agreed on the condition that only those who could hold on to Guru Sahib's cloak would be released; Guru Sahib thus had his Sikhs design a cloak with 52 tassels and was released along with all the princes. The lesson for humanity from Guru Sahib being that one should contemplate the suffering of others before one's own and that the freedom and rights of others was more important than his own. All across the globe, Sikhs have been celebrating Bandi Chor/Diwali, we urge you to consider for a moment the plight of those innocent Sikhs who year in year out, spend Bandi Chor/Diwali away from families and friends in a small dirty cell, hearing fireworks and celebrations happening outside their prisons. Guru Sahib Ji was benevolent, humane and had a profound love for one and all, may we develop such divine virtues. May we all endeavor to assist and support such prisoners and at the very least we can all make a heartfelt prayer that Guru Jee blesses all prisoners with Chardi Kala/High Spirits. The SOPW calls upon all Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike to realise and instil this message in their hearts and demand the release of all those who are being held illegally and without trial across the globe. It is a travesty that especially in the very nation (India) Sri Guru Hargobind Ji personified such an exemplary universal message that there are thousands who are still being tortured (recently Bhai Pala Singh), charged with false crimes, held without trial and without access to their families. We urge you to help us, help them It must be remembered:"A injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere." Prominent Sikhs currently imprisoned include Prof. Davinderpal Singh Bhullar: "There are serious concerns that Davinder Pal Singh Bhuller may not have been given a fair trial." (Amnesty International) "Not a single witness, out of the 133 witnesses identified him." (The Voice Refugee Forum) And Bhai Paramjeet Singh Dhadhi: "a clear cut planted case where two Indian nationals and a British national were falsely implicated" (Lawyers For Human Rights International) We urge you to help us to help them. You may not be able to travel to India and fight their legal cases, but your donations enable us to instruct lawyers on their behalf. In the last year SOPW, in this way, helped facilitate the release/bail of 10 Sikh prisoners including Bibi Balwinder Kaur. £20 a month helps provide prisoners with the basic amenities in prison such as fresh fruit, soap, oil (hair/body) and clothes. Please donate your time, money and/or expertise to ensuring we are able to help those families and individuals whose liberty is denied. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa ||Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh || The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare (SOPW) Info@prisonerwelfare.comwww.prisonerwelfare.comRegistered Charity No. 1125370 To support our work: http://www.justgiving.com/sopw

The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare denounces the illegal abduction and detention of Sikh Civil Rights campaigner Pal Singh in Punjab, India. The 54 year old French National, who has championed Sikh Human Rights in Europe and North America, has in recent years committed himself fully to tackling social issues such as drug and alcohol abuse in Punjab. According to eyewitness accounts, Mr Singh was picked up by plain clothed officers on the 22nd July, the Daily Ajit published an article on the arrest the next day. The Punjab Police denied any knowledge of Mr Singh’s whereabouts, SOPW instructed legal counsel Rajwinder Singh Bains to challenge the legality of the arrest, filling for Habeas Corpus on the 26th July. The habeas corpus petition was taken up by Justice Arvind Kumar who appointed a warrant officer to trace Pal Singh, which then led to the Punjab Police finally declaring in a press conference later that day that 5 people (including Pal Singh) had been arrested. This is a common feature in most of the cases that SOPW is currently working on. Sikh men are illegally detained for days, sometimes weeks before the detention is made official. During this time the detainee does not exist, and is when the majority or severity of torture is inflicted. Disturbingly, the Times of India reported that the village Councillor who located Pal Singh in police custody, was concerned that Mr Singh bore signs of torture at the hands of the police. SOPW is launching a campaign to free Mr Pal Singh and get redress. This will include lobbying the French and Indian Governments to take action. Info@prisonerwelfare.com www.prisonerwelfare.com Registered Charity No. 1125370 To support our work: http://www.justgiving.com/sopw Sevadaar Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh Veer ji, The Sikh Organisation for Prisoners Welfare is the only charity in the world whose sole mandate is the service of those Gursikhs who are still languishing behind bars. Could we write an article, stictly legal and humanitarian (not political) to educate the sangat about this cause. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh Veer ji, The Sikh Organisation for Prisoners Welfare is the only charity in the world whose sole mandate is the service of those Gursikhs who are still languishing behind bars. Could we write an article, stictly legal and humanitarian (not political) to educate the sangat about this cause. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh sopw.uk@googlemail.com

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh Veer ji, The Sikh Organisation for Prisoners Welfare is the only charity in the world whose sole mandate is the service of those Gursikhs who are still languishing behind bars. Could we write an article, stictly legal and humanitarian (not political) to educate the sangat about this cause. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh sopw.uk@googlemail.com

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fathe Can anybody help us track down the original or best quality picture of Prof Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar? Specifically the one where he is walking with handcuffs in a white kurta Please note we urgently need this to help us in our sewa. Also if you can volunteer in any sewa please advise as we need as much assistance as we can get. Many thanks SOPW Volunteer.

Thanks to all the Sangat/Volunteers this year for all their support this year Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh Sevadaar sopw.uk@googlemail.com prisonerwelfare.com Registered Charity No. 1125370

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh ! This first year for Sikh Organisation for Prisoners Welfare (SOPW) has been very productive and successful. We have identified and currently look after approximately one hundred prisoners and have been able to facilitate the release/bailout of 10 Political Sikh Prisoners this year already. This includes the bailout in November of Bibi Balwinder Kaur the wife of Jagtar Singh Hawara (pictures added to FB group) who had spent nearly 5 years in Sangrur jail and also Pargat Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Amarjit Singh from Nabha Jail who had served between five and 12 years respectively. For continuance and expansion of our projects we need support of the Sangat, and for this we need to get the message of the plight of the Political Sikh prisoners to Sikhs worldwide. This is a very important cause, and in most cases we are about 10 or 15 years too late. However, we can and must act now to reduce the suffering and hardship experienced by Sikhs who have been illegally detained over decades for their religious and political beliefs, for the Sikh Qaum. No Sikh, or any individual with morals should rest and allow these grave abuses of human rights continue: What can you do: Financially support and contribute towards the monthly welfare of a Sikh prisoner help advocate the plight of Political Sikh prisoners worldwide, by distributing literature in your towns/cities or through the Internet (forums, websites etc) Join our Facebook Fan Page, and please INVITE your family and friends to it, whilst you may not be able to support/volunteer , maybe a relative or friend may. Please be sure to join our Fan Page: http://www.facebook....39282080?ref=ts and group on Facebook if you are signed up: http://www.facebook....81414757&ref=ts Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki Fateh Sevadaar sopw.uk@googlemail.com prisonerwelfare.com Registered Charity No. 1125370

Kabir,marta marta jagg muaa,marr bhi naa jaaney koye, Aisi marni jo marrey,bahur naa marna hoye. Kabir, the world is dying – dying to death, but no one knows how to truly die. Whoever dies, let him die such a death, that he does not have to die again Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh Sikh Organisation For Prisoners Welfare (SOPW) condemn the brutal disproportionate actions of the Punjab police today, whose actions have caused the Shaheedi of Gursikh(S) (full details yet to be confirmed). SOPW is working on the ground to ensure that those Gursikhs and families who are being indiscriminately rounded up by the police are supported and backed with legal support, to ensure their civil rights are maintained. This incident serves as another example of the difficulties faced by Sikhs today, and also an awakening to Sikhs worldwide to act now to support our Gursikhs who are persecuted for standing firm against oppression as per our Guru Sahib's orders. SOPW had prepared a press release to inform the Sadh Sangat that the release of 3 Sikh prisoners had been facilitated yesterday, Gursikhs who had been imprisoned for 5 - 12 years respectively. Arrangements had been made for these Gursikhs to be met by volunteers of SOPW from England and to be taken to Sri Harmandir Sahib today. However this press release had to be delayed as the Gursikhs having heard of the arrival of anti-sikh elements cancelled the meeting and rushed to Ludhiana to stand once against oppression (a day after being released). The whereabouts/welfare of these things is unknown and we pray for them, along with the Gursikhs they joined and our beloved Shaheeds. The bravery of these particular Gursikhs, gives an insight to their Chardi Kala, although largely ignored and forgotten by the Panth, a decade in prison could not break their spirit of righteousness. Please contact SOPW to find out how you can help support our Gursikhs, SOPW currently has approximately 100 Gursikhs whose only crime is their inability to turn a blind eye to oppression. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh Sikh Organisation For Prisoners Welfare (SOPW) sopw.uk@googlemail.com www.prisonerwelfare.com

Kabir,marta marta jagg muaa,marr bhi naa jaaney koye, Aisi marni jo marrey,bahur naa marna hoye. Kabir, the world is dying – dying to death, but no one knows how to truly die. Whoever dies, let him die such a death, that he does not have to die again Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh Sikh Organisation For Prisoners Welfare (SOPW) condemn the brutal disproportionate actions of the Punjab police today, whose actions have caused the Shaheedi of Gursikh(S) (full details yet to be confirmed). SOPW is working on the ground to ensure that those Gursikhs and families who are being indiscriminately rounded up by the police are supported and backed with legal support, to ensure their civil rights are maintained. This incident serves as another example of the difficulties faced by Sikhs today, and also an awakening to Sikhs worldwide to act now to support our Gursikhs who are persecuted for standing firm against oppression as per our Guru Sahib's orders. SOPW had prepared a press release to inform the Sadh Sangat that the release of 3 Sikh prisoners had been facilitated yesterday, Gursikhs who had been imprisoned for 5 - 12 years respectively. Arrangements had been made for these Gursikhs to be met by volunteers of SOPW from England and to be taken to Sri Harmandir Sahib today. However this press release had to be delayed as the Gursikhs having heard of the arrival of anti-sikh elements cancelled the meeting and rushed to Ludhiana to stand once against oppression (a day after being released). The whereabouts/welfare of these things is unknown and we pray for them, along with the Gursikhs they joined and our beloved Shaheeds. The bravery of these particular Gursikhs, gives an insight to their Chardi Kala, although largely ignored and forgotten by the Panth, a decade in prison could not break their spirit of righteousness. Please contact SOPW to find out how you can help support our Gursikhs, SOPW currently has approximately 100 Gursikhs whose only crime is their inability to turn a blind eye to oppression. Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh Sikh Organisation For Prisoners Welfare (SOPW) sopw.uk@googlemail.com www.prisonerwelfare.com

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The Sikh Organisation for Prisoner Welfare is the ONLY charity in the world whose sole mandate is the support and assistance Of Sikh Prisoners in India. Many do not know this but hundreds of Sikhs still languish behind bars in jail from the 80s when many soldiers who dropped out the army refusing to attack their fellow Sikhs were court martialled and sent indefinitely to jail, the few hundred that remain in prison also account for a tiny percentage of the thousands of the youths who disappeared from the land of Punjab. This charity was set up and is run by Bhai Balbir Singh who was abducted by the Indian police and tortured spending many years in jail away from his young family in the UK. Only owing to his British residence, pressure from UK MPs was he finally released a few years ago. http://www.prisonerwelfare.com/ http://www.facebook....3.4196122906..1 We need help from graphic designers, video editors, web designers to help create a website for the Sikh prisoners charity which will track the progress and support of the prisoners they look after. And also improve the Khalsa aid website so that the right features are highlighted well etc. Due to the ongoing politics in most our Gurudawaras, these websites will be the sole means of contact with the sangat so they need to convey information professionally. We also appeal to all members of the sangat for help, your assistance could be fundraising at local gurudawaras, universities or college or through any other skills or abilities you have. All you need to make a difference is the passion and interest for this cause.