Pakistani Islamic State murder another Sikh

The Islamic extremist group IS-K (Islamic State) have claimed the murder of a Sikh man and also the shooting of another this past weekend in Peshawar (Pakistan).

35-year-old Manmohan Singh was gunned down in his shop (a pharmacy) in Rashid Garhi on Saturday, after Tarlok Singh, another shopkeeper (grocery store) according to media reports, was shot and injured on Friday in the Yakatoot area of Peshawar. Both were said to be targeted for their religion and being active in local community affairs.

The murder, claimed by Islamic State Khorasan Province (sometimes called ISKP), of Manmohan Singh is the third murder of a Sikh in Pakistan this year, with Sardar Singh murdered in Lahore last month whilst Dayal Singh another shopkeeper according to media – was also murdered in April in Peshawar too. Reports on the last two deaths remain conflicting, regarding whether any Islamic extremist group have claimed them or not. However, both are suspected to be part of the ongoing targeting of influential Sikhs in Pakistan.

The targeting of shopkeepers seems to be a trend, as Sikhs in the region (including across the border in Afghanistan) are known to be successful business owners, seemingly causing resentment amongst Islamic extremists. Last year in May two more Sikh shopkeepers were murdered by ISK in Peshawar.

Although other areas of Pakistan are considered possibly safer for Sikhs, the community has faced various issues across the country for decades, an issue which has seemingly not been impacted by government changes in the country. In 2020 of the most important Sikh sites in the world – Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, in the region where Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj was born – was attacked by a mob angry at a pursuit for justice by local Sikhs in a case of forced marriage and conversion. Neighbouring Muslim nation Afghanistan has also seen relentless persecution of Sikhs, with the 2020 Kabul Gurdwara massacre of 25 (including a three-year-old) being the prime example of the issue. Another Gurdwara attack in Kabul last year (June) also saw three men killed by IS-K (one Sikh, a Muslim security guard and a Taliban soldier fighting against IS-K).

Problems for Sikhs in Muslim majority nations continue, from forced marriage conversions to outright murder. Efforts to help Sikhs seek refugee status from Afghanistan remain a priority for groups like The World Sikh Organization (Canada) and global aid group United Sikhs. Find WSO statements on the recent attacks below.