Chandigarh :
The UK Home Secretary has ruled out “collective punishment” during a heated debate in the House of Commons over calls by far-right groups to restrict Sikh religious practices following a recent murder case.
The discussion was triggered after demands emerged to ban Sikhs from carrying the Kirpan, a ceremonial article of faith, despite it not being used in the crime. Lawmakers clarified that a different weapon was involved in the incident that led to the conviction of Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.
During the debate, Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi strongly defended the Sikh community, condemning what he described as attempts to scapegoat an entire faith group over the actions of an individual.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Parliament that the government would not penalise the wider Sikh community, stressing that Britain does not support collective punishment and will not restrict religious freedoms based on isolated criminal acts.
She also referenced existing protections under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, which she said already regulates the carrying of long kirpans while safeguarding legitimate religious practice.
The debate has sparked widespread attention among Sikh communities in the UK and abroad, with religious leaders condemning both the crime and efforts to use the incident to justify restrictions on long-standing religious traditions.
