(Image source from: Sikhs in UK criticize use of Asian for criminals})
A group of Sikh NRIs in UK asked the police to refrain from the use of term “Asian”, when referring the south Asia origin criminals, especially in the aftermath of Rotherham sex-trials, which hugely includes Pakistani Muslim men, who preyed on young girls.
The Sikh Federation in UK took the move following the conviction of four Pakistani-origin men. All four are members of the same family and were convicted last week, for raping and sexually abusing as many as 15 teenage girls for over 16 years in Rotherham, northern England.
The Independent reported that, Bhai Amrik Singh of the group said that, “if the four, that have been found guilty and carried out the abuse were Pakistani Muslims, this is how they should be described and not called Asian."
"One of the demands in the Sikh Manifesto that, we published a year ago, before the General Election was that the government should encourage public bodies and the media to abandon the use of the term 'Asian' when describing the perpetrators for reasons of political correctness," Singh added.
The gang leader, Arshid Hussain, was jailed for 35 years, while his brothers Basharat Hussain (39) and Bannaras Hussain (36) were imprisoned for 25 years and 19 years respectively. Their uncle Qurban Ali (53), also handed for 10 years.
The media have highly discussed the case as an example of "Asian grooming gangs", that, the group believes divides communities.
Singh said that, "we have learnt the perpetrators of these crimes regarded themselves as above the law as the authorities were supposedly worried about race relations and turned a blind eye despite repeated warnings."
A joint statement by the Hindu Council UK, Sikh Media Monitoring Group, the Network of Sikh Organizations and the Sikh Awareness Society, said that, "communities, who themselves fall victim of this emerging pattern of criminality, should not be besmirched by the vague terminology 'Asian'. In order to help find a solution to the problem, we need to be clear on the identity of those involved."
Nandini
