Western Australia Police confirm investigation into beadbi (sacrilege) incident

UPDATE:

Perpetrator gets deported.

UPDATE:

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Western Australia police have confirmed they are looking into a shocking incident of beadbi (anti-Sikh religious sacrilege) in Perth (Western Australia) which has caused global outrage.

The incident was filmed by the perpetrator, with the video finding its way into Sikh circles via tik-tok and whatsapp last week. It depicted a man burning GurBani (Guru’s Word: Sikh scripture) and carrying out other incredibly disrespectful acts on a Gutka Sahib (small composition of GurBani) outside and inside a Gurdwara, which Sikh PA will not detail.

GurBani is sacred to Sikhs, with any written form of it expected to be treated with the utmost respect, whilst GurBani is also forbidden from being used decoratively (whether on decoratively material or as a tattoo or other), to preserve its sanctity. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the full composition of GurBani, is considered the Sikh scriptural Guru and to be treated with very specific regal protocol.

The act of hatred clearly attempting to enflame and provoke Sikh communities has prompted global outrage and immediate reactions from both Australian Sikh groups and local authorities. According to on-the-ground sources speaking with Sikh PA, thus far, investigations coordinated between Australian sevadaars (selfless servants) and Western Australia Police have revealed:

• The Gurdwara in the video is Gurudwara Sahib Canning Vale (Perth)
• The video’s release came a long while after (at least weeks) it was recorded
• The original video also included parts recorded in India
• A name tagged in the video is believed to be a reference to an Australian Sikh activist, in an attempt to antagonise them
• It is believed (but unconfirmed) the video was posted online in Germany

Australian Sikhs have been the target of an aggressive anti-Sikh Hindu extremist-Indian nationalist campaign in recent years, due to widespread Sikh criticism of India’s current far-right regime under Narendra Modi and previous anti-Sikh incidents, such as India’s 1984 #SikhGenocide. Hindu and Indian nationalist groups have reacted aggressively online and in real life towards Australian Sikhs raising these human rights abuses of India.

Last year Australian Sikh orgs released a joined statement about this issue, following propaganda attempting to malign Sikhs, even going so far as to begin a petition to have Sikhs “deported” and Sikh practices “banned” in Australia. In 2022, one volunteer of Turbans 4 Australia was brutally attacked by Hindu extremists for being involved with the org which is critical of India, where Sikhs are just 2% of the population

The incidents continue dating back, with the most infamous arguably being the case of Vishal Jood, who was deported from Australia in 2021 for leading a Hindu extremist gang targeting Sikhs. Jood received a heroes welcome back in India. Similar issues are apparent in Canada, the USA and Australia. Many other incidents underlining Australia’s anti-Sikh Hindu extremist issue have surfaced, including the arrest of two Hindu men found to be carrying knives near a Sikh space, with police citing they had ““intent to commit indictable offence”.

Ongoing meetings are happening across Australia as efforts to counter anti-Sikh hate in the country continue, seeking urgent action, with support from Australia’s Green Party, led by respected MP David Shoebridge who has long been engaged with the community. Shoebridge released a public letter sent to the Western Australia Police Commissioner to urge the incident “be treated as a serious targeted criminal act”. Local Sikh councillour Jagdip Singh also said “The community must respond with a unified and urgent approach” in a statement.

These statements came prior to a release from WA Police, which confirmed the matter is being investigated.

Legal advocacy charity UNITED SIKHS have also spoken against the incident and confirmed legal support to ensure the case is adequately looked into.

Updates on this story will be provided as they surface.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com.