Bezhti Discussion Tomorrow

[kurtas]

This was on BBC teletext.

Sikh demo play under discussion

The issues raised by the cancellation

of controversial play Behzti are to be

discussed at Birmingham University.

The work, which depicts rape and murder

in a temple, was dropped by the city's

Repertory Theatre after violence at a

protest involving hundreds of Sikhs.

Its author, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, had

to go into hiding in December after

receiving death threats.

The dispute will be discussed at a

seminar on Monday attended by a leading

member of the Sikh community.

[Jagmeet]

This was on BBC teletext.

Sikh demo play under discussion

The issues raised by the cancellation

of controversial play Behzti are to be

discussed at Birmingham University.

The work, which depicts rape and murder

in a temple, was dropped by the city's

Repertory Theatre after violence at a

protest involving hundreds of Sikhs.

Its author, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, had

to go into hiding in December after

receiving death threats.

The dispute will be discussed at a

seminar on Monday attended by a leading

member of the Sikh community.

85481[/snapback]

where and when exactly? are the members of the pubic allowed to attend?

[s s Jhamka]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa

vaheguru ji ki fateh

heres info on debate and guess what they have 2 so-called Sikhs one mr mandla who was the one who couldn’t make a stand and blamed the youths and went to the press saying that the extremists from the Sikh fed took over the protests and one prof gurharpal who has communist leanings and looks at everything as if the militants or power hungry leaders hijack everything. I don’t think these ppl can or will give a Sikh view or mr mandla hold his own. sorry to say this

and why was not the sikh community been informed about this in good time the usual lastmintue.com. Guess these self appointed leader won’t learn anything.

lets try to get as many ppl there as poss to show that the sikh youth care as well as holding on to british values but hold on to sikh values too

we have not forgotten our faith we will continue to stand up for it

take care

sukdev

vjkk vjkf

the link is: - jus copy and paste into address bar...

http://www.newscentre.bham.ac.uk/release.h...owUndelivered=N

if u can't open link:

Conspiracy, Blasphemy or Censorship? Sikh Play Debated

11/02/2005

Events spurred on by the recent Sikh protest in Birmingham relating to

the controversial play Behtzi will be discussed in a seminar at the

University of Birmingham's Centre for the Study of Global Ethics on Monday

14 February at 5.30pm.

Issues such as freedom of speech, censorship and blasphemy will be

addressed at the seminar entitled: Limits to the Freedom of Speech? The

example of the recent Sikh protest in Birmingham.

Chaired by Dr Thomas Diez, of Birmingham's Department of Political

Science and International Studies, the topical event will feature key

speakers: Mr Sewa Singh Mandla, chairman of the Council of Sikh Gurudwaras

in Birmingham; Dr Sirkku Hellsten, acting director of the Centre for the

Study of Global Ethics; Dr Therese O'Toole, of the University's

Department of Sociology; and Professor Gurharpal Singh, of the university's

Department of Theology.

Dr Sirkku Hellsten, director of the Centre for the Study of Global

Ethics, said: "We are committed to freedom of speech and to a fair hearing

for minority communities' concerns. The fact that the incidents

surrounding Behtzi happened in our locality made it even more evident that we

should hold a public debate on where the boundaries lie between freedom

of speech and respect for people's beliefs."

The seminar takes place on Monday 14 February at 5.30pm at the Centre

for the Study of Global Ethics, Priorsfield, 46 Edgbaston Park Road,

Birmingham, B15 2RT. Admission is free and members of the public are

welcome to attend.

Notes to Editors:

The Centre for the Study of Global Ethics at the University of

Birmingham is the only research and teaching department at any British

University specifically dedicated to the study of the ethical issues of

globalisation. More information on the Centre is held online:

www.globalethics.bham.ac.uk.

The public seminar chaired by Dr Thomas Diez, entitled "Limits to the

Freedom of Speech? The example of the recent Sikh protest in

Birmingham" takes place from 5.30pm-7pm on Monday 14 February at the Centre for

the Study of Global Ethics, University of Birmingham, Priorsfield, 46

Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2RT. For directions and a map (the

centre is building no.69), visit:

http://www.location.bham.ac.uk/edgbaston.htm

Members of the media who would like to attend should register their

interest with Abigail Dixon, Press Officer - University of Birmingham

Tel: 0121 414 5134 / mob: 07789 921163 / email: a.dixon@bham.ac.uk

Further Information:

Anna Dingley - Press Officer, University of Birmingham

tel: 0121 415 8134 / mob: 07769 952763

[Mahavir]

Why is the arts world keping this issue front and centre? I'm getting the feeling they are using the Behzti issue as a scapegoat to further their extreme liberal ideals.

From what I've heard Mr. Madala is in no way capable of defending the Sikh position. These "leaders" are going to let down the Sikhs big time.

[S1ngh]

This is the very famous tatic used by SO called Sikh Scholars who think that they represent sikh community. They will never ever tell events like this to the public, you know why? because they know that it will come back to them and haunt them and somehow they are afraid of the truth that they really do not represent the majority of the sikh community. Sikhs or panthic org. must have links and should be available to do any event and represent the true image of sikhi.

These ppls will sure ruin and look how it is that sangat found about this only by new article.

[Khalsa Fauji]

Gurfateh!!

So what happened, in the discussion?? did anyone from here go?? :umm: @ (HAHA love that smiley).

Gurfateh!!

[buddasingh]

This is a political game. It happens again and again to create realities. The descriptions remind me of cowards who came to Canada in the 60s and 70s removed their dastars when they get off the plane arriving from India, denied that they had anything to do with sikhi, cringed at the word curry, hid pictures of their parents and proudly displayed their disco pants NOW are SIKH LEADERS.

Times change and there is economic and ego payoff to get political positions and to represent oneself as a leader of a minority community.

The mainstream loves these inferiority complex guys for buying into their worldview of brown on the outside is tolerable as long as you know your place as a slave on the inside.

Their modus operandi is the same old mutual <admin-profanity filter activated> kissing power, economic, racist politics which simpleton punjabi egos buy into. "Look it's me, I've been promoted from the fields to the house nigger position", I get to sit next to the master".

The masses are simple. Our spirit is insanely complex, our solution CREATIVITY IN PR... the masses are starving for doses of reality in media....where are the khalsa marketing/MBA/artists whose kirpan infused spirit can leave these people eating dust?

[sarblohsingh2004]

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh !

Programs on Monday 21 Feb at 8pm on Channel 4 .... it will include stuff about behzti play .... not sure if it is going to be positive or negative but worth a look:

Dispatches: Holy Offensive

CHANNEL4 (UK) – 21 Feb 2005 - 8 pm

Religious groups and the arts world are engaged in an unprecedented level of conflict based around the right to free artistic expression. Holy Offensive goes behind the scenes and talks to those on both sides of this growing divide about where to draw the line.