LONDON — Sikhs from across the United Kingdom are converging on Parliament this week to challenge lawmakers and the government over their silence regarding a massive spike in Anti-Sikh hate crimes.

The lobbying effort follows the tragic death of Kirandeep Kaur, a 24-year-old Sikh mother who was fatally stabbed in Hayes, west London, on Sunday. The suspect, 44-year-old Daniel Sean James of Pinner, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article. Her family has stated they believe the attack was racially motivated.

Demands for Government Accountability

Community leaders are pointing to broken promises from the current administration. Before taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to the Sikh community that a Labour government would rectify the failures of successive administrations in addressing Anti-Sikh hate.

Dabinderjit Singh OBE, Chief Executive for political engagement for the Sikh Federation (UK), strongly criticized the government’s current stance.

“More than two years after Labour came to power, it has done nothing to recognise, acknowledge, and tackle Anti-Sikh hate crimes on a par with Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim hate, as Keir Starmer categorically promised,” Singh stated. He noted that the community has faced a “complete wall of silence” from the Home Secretary and Policing Minister since late May, despite raising urgent concerns about hate crimes and the misrepresentation of the sacred Kirpan.

“We had put on record it was only a matter of time before a Sikh was killed before there might be action to address the massive spike in Anti-Sikh hate crimes,” Singh added.

Alarming Rise in Hate Crimes: The Sikh Network Survey

To quantify the recent surge in violence and harassment, The Sikh Network conducted a spot survey of over 1,000 UK Sikhs, assessing incidents since mid-May—coinciding with the trial of Vickrum Digwa. The findings, which are being shared with Parliamentarians, paint a disturbing picture of community safety:

• 40% of respondents have experienced or witnessed an Anti-Sikh hate crime since mid-May.

• 90% of respondents believe hate crimes have increased in this period, with 61% reporting a “significant increase.”

• 84% of Sikhs surveyed are now taking extra precautions in their daily lives, and two-thirds have altered their daily routines due to safety fears.

The types of abuse reported range from routine harassment to severe violence. Nearly half of the reported incidents involved verbal abuse during daily activities, such as children being harassed at school or adults being threatened on public transport. A further 25% of incidents involved online abuse, while nearly 10% escalated to vandalism, physical assaults, or grievous bodily harm.

A Crisis of Confidence in Policing

Despite the high volume of incidents, the survey revealed a severe lack of trust in law enforcement. While 60% of respondents know how to report a hate crime, only 6% of the incidents were actually reported to the police. Furthermore, 70% of respondents stated they have no confidence that the police would take their reports seriously.

Community members shared harrowing personal accounts. An elderly man in East London reported an attempted physical assault where a stranger tried to remove his turban from behind. In another instance, a care worker from Southampton was abruptly dismissed by an elderly client following the Digwa trial.

Calls for Systematic Change

The Sikh community is now demanding a complete overhaul of how government departments engage with them. Sikh MPs recently met with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss these pressing issues, expressing frustration that the community is being “taken for granted” under the current administration.

Advocates are pressing for direct government engagement with leading, accountable Sikh community organizations to ensure that Anti-Sikh hate is prioritized and addressed with the same urgency as other forms of race- and faith-based extremism.