Protest In Edinburgh - Sunday 19th Nov

[Guest Glasgow Singh]

sorry to double post.

still trying to arrange things from Coventry - will have more details hopefull within the hour. sorry for the last minute-ness, will let all know as soon as

[KhalsaSingh]

sorry to double post.

still trying to arrange things from Coventry - will have more details hopefull within the hour. sorry for the last minute-ness, will let all know as soon as

IS there coach from leeds tomorrow, can this be confirmed? what time?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Any news of the vigil earlier today?

Just about to do radio interview on behalf of the Sikh Federation (UK) regarding Ypres, Belgium on 11 November and what has been done in the context of the attack on the 15 year old on Tuesday evening.

[Guest Glasgow Singh]

Maharaj Di Kirpa Naal, it was a good event, no trouble...

Organisers tried their best to spolil the event with backstage politics, but the good thing is, even though there were so many personal agendas on display from our leaders - we did make the police, the government, and our own "leaders" stand up and take note of the fact thatw e will not be silenced.

Daas would like to extend my greatest appreciation to my brothers and sisters from all over UK who were able to make the journey, the display of family and support has left me, at a time of dismay feeling like i have brothers and sisters the world over. Thank you from all Glasgow, and Scottish Sangat.

Daasan Daas

Glasgow Singh

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Maharaj Di Kirpa Naal, it was a good event, no trouble...

Organisers tried their best to spolil the event with backstage politics, but the good thing is, even though there were so many personal agendas on display from our leaders - we did make the police, the government, and our own "leaders" stand up and take note of the fact thatw e will not be silenced.

Daas would like to extend my greatest appreciation to my brothers and sisters from all over UK who were able to make the journey, the display of family and support has left me, at a time of dismay feeling like i have brothers and sisters the world over. Thank you from all Glasgow, and Scottish Sangat.

Daasan Daas

Glasgow Singh

Given what you say 'the organisers tried their best to spoil the event with backstage politics' you will understand if I avoid mention of this in the radio interview.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Prayer vigil for race attack boy (Report on the Internet)

Nov 19 2006

More than 200 people from all over Britain attended a prayer vigil in support of a Sikh boy who had his hair cut off in a racial attack.

Scores of Sikhs gathered with community leaders and representatives from other faiths in the Edinburgh park where the assault took place.

Sikhs travelled from places such as London, Birmingham and Glasgow to the city's Pilrig Park, where a 15-year-old Asian boy was set upon by a gang of four white youths last Tuesday evening.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Vigil for Sikh race victim ITV News

9.33, Sun Nov 19 2006

Hundreds of Sikhs have attended a prayer vigil at the site of a racist attack where a Sikh teenager had his hair cut off.

They had travelled from all over the country to Pilrig Park in Edinburgh where the 15-year-old was set upon last Tuesday.

He was subjected to a tirade of racist abuse and beaten before finally having his hair cut off.

Hair is a religious symbol for Sikhs, and it is strictly against the religion to have it shorn.

Chief Inspector Keith Chamberlain, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: "The rally at Pilrig Park was well organised and supported by not just the Sikh community but community leaders from a number of other faiths and local people."

Some people had travelled from as far away as London to attend.

[Harmeet_Singh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinbu...ast/6161310.stm

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

20 November 2006

SIKH VIGIL FOR ATTACK BOY - The Daily Record

A PRAYER vigil was held in Edinburgh yesterday after a Sikh teenager had his hair cut in a racist attack.

More than 200 of the city's Sikh community attended the service in Pilrig Park, where the assault took place, in a show of unity and defiance.

The 15-year-old was set upon by a gang of four white youths who held him down and hacked off his hair - a sin in his faith.

Representatives of other faiths and local people also attended the vigil to show their support.

Chief Inspector Keith Chamberlain, who is leading the hunt for the gang, said: "Everyone has been quite rightly shocked by the incident and this event allowed people to come together to express their support for the Sikh community in a peaceful way.

"Detectives are working hard to trace the culprits and are following up a number of lines of enquiry.

"We would urge anyone who has information about this crime to contact us."

Prayer vigil call for unity after Asian boy attacked - The Scotsman

KARIN GOODWIN

RELIGIOUS leaders last night called for calm as hundreds of people gathered for a prayer vigil at the site of a racist attack on an Asian teenager.

Sikhs from across Britain were joined by members of other religious communities at the spot in Edinburgh where the 15-year-old was assaulted.

The teenager was attacked in Pilrig Park last Tuesday by four white youths, who subjected him to a tirade of abuse before kicking and punching him to the ground.

His bandana-style head covering, worn in accordance with his faith, was torn off and his hair, which Sikh men pledge never to cut, was shorn.

Rab Singh, the vice-president of Leith's Sikh temple, said yesterday's vigil was intended to send out a strong message of peace and religious unity.

The gathered throng marched from the Mill Lane temple to Pilrig Park waving banners and chanting in Punjabi "the lord is wonderful, his name is true".

During the two-hour event, candles were lit as a host of religious leaders and organisation representatives offered prayers and sympathy to the teenager's family, and called for interfaith unity and dialogue to counter the violence of the attack.

Mr Singh added: "The community in Leith is a well-integrated one, and hopefully this is a one-off case."

Though some community members claim the victim is still extremely shaken and may need counselling, Mr Singh said the boy was recovering well.

"I've spent time with the boy's family, and he is very shocked," he said. "But he was at the temple this morning and he will be all right." The community has been working closely with police over the incident, he added.

It is understood that police, who last week launched a dedicated text and email appeal for witnesses, as well as working with schools in the area, have identified a number of suspects and are currently gathering evidence.

Chief Inspector Keith Chamberlain said: "This was an exceptionally serious incident and will not be tolerated. We are very confident of getting a positive outcome on this case."

The Rev Professor Frank Whaling, president of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, said: "We are glad to be giving support to the Sikh community today.

"We want to pass on our thoughts, prayers and sympathies to the boy and his family."

Malcolm Chisholm, communities minister and Leith MSP, and the Edinburgh City Council leader, Ewan Aitken, also attended the event.

SYMBOL OF SIKH FAITH

SIKHS regard their hair - known as Kes - as one of the five Kakaars, which shield and protect their spirituality. In 1699, religious followers were commanded by Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the ten gurus of Sikhism, to wear their hair long and uncut, as a visible symbol of their faith.

Sikh men tie their hair in a Rishi knot. The turban, or head covering, is worn to keep the hair clean, as cleanliness is considered next to godliness.

[Gurvah]

Any pictures from sunday?