A Plight For Survival: The Struggles Of Afghanistan's Sikh Community

Afghanistan's Sikh population has been declining since the 1970s due to conflict, persecution, and intolerance. While the community once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, only a few hundred remain today. The largest numbers of Afghan Sikhs live in Jalalabad, Ghazni, and Kabul, with smaller communities in Kandahar and Khost. Despite their small numbers, Sikhs have been the most prevalent non-Muslim minority in Afghanistan.

Sikh population in Afghanistan has declined from 200,000 in the 1980s to 1,350 today

Afghanistan's Sikh population has been declining for decades, dropping from 200,000 in the 1980s to 1,350 today. The community, which has a long history in the country, has faced religious discrimination, persecution, and violence, leading to a mass exodus.

Sikhism in Afghanistan dates back to the 15th century when Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, visited Kabul. The community grew over the centuries, with a significant presence in major cities like Kabul, Jalalabad, and Ghazni. However, the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s marked a turning point, as many Sikhs began to flee the country due to the conflict.

The situation worsened in the 1990s when the Mujahideen took power. Widespread religious persecution, violence, and property grabbing targeted the Sikh community, causing a large number to leave the country. The Taliban regime that followed continued the persecution, forcing Sikhs to pay a special tax, prohibiting their cremation customs, and requiring them to wear yellow patches or veils for identification.

As a result of these conflicts and human rights abuses, the Sikh population declined sharply. By the early 2000s, only about 15,000 Sikhs remained in Afghanistan. The recent return of the Taliban to power has further accelerated the community's decline, with many more Sikhs seeking to leave the country. Today, it is estimated that only around 1,350 Sikhs remain in Afghanistan, mainly in Jalalabad and Kabul.

The remaining Sikhs in Afghanistan face poverty and the constant threat of violence. Terrorist attacks on Sikh religious complexes and community leaders have left the community grieving and fearful. Despite their resilience and strong national identity, the combination of religious discrimination, insecurity, and economic hardship has made it increasingly difficult for Afghan Sikhs to continue living in the country.

As a result, many have sought refuge in other countries, particularly India, which has offered expedited citizenship to Afghan Sikhs. However, some Afghan Sikhs prefer to migrate to Western nations like Canada, the UK, or the US, as they seek safer and more prosperous lives away from the turmoil of their homeland.

The Afghan government has reserved a seat for Sikhs and Hindus in the National Assembly

Afghanistan has a long history of Sikh and Hindu populations, with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, visiting the country in the 15th century. In the 1970s, the Sikh population in Afghanistan numbered around 100,000. However, due to decades of conflict, poverty, and intolerance, their numbers have dwindled significantly.

In recognition of the Sikh and Hindu communities' presence in Afghanistan, the Afghan government has taken steps to ensure their representation in the National Assembly. In 2013, then-President Hamid Karzai issued a legislative decree reserving a seat in the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly, for a member of the Sikh and Hindu communities. This decree was blocked by the parliament at the time.

However, in 2016, the decree came into force when it was approved by the cabinet of President Ashraf Ghani, who succeeded Karzai. This decision followed lawmakers' failure to reserve a special seat for the minorities through law. The approval of the decree ensured that the Sikh and Hindu communities would have representation in the National Assembly.

In the subsequent general election, Narendra Singh Khalsa, the son of a community leader killed in a suicide attack, was elected to this reserved seat. Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the community, also entered parliament, running unopposed for a seat in the lower house apportioned to the minority. These representatives have expressed their determination to fight for the rights of their communities and all Afghans.

The inclusion of reserved seats for the Sikh and Hindu minorities in the National Assembly is a significant step towards ensuring the representation and participation of these communities in Afghanistan's political process. It provides an opportunity for their voices to be heard and their concerns to be addressed at the highest levels of government.

Sikhs are targeted for their cremation customs, considered sacrilege in Islam

Afghanistan's Sikh population has dwindled from around 200,000 in the 1970s to a few hundred today. The community has faced persecution and intolerance, with religious discrimination and violence perpetrated by the Taliban and other terrorist groups.

The Sikh custom of cremating the dead has been a significant factor in their persecution. Cremation is considered sacrilege in Islam, and traditional cremation grounds used by Sikhs and Hindus have been appropriated by Muslims. Cremation is seen as a form of bodily mutilation and, therefore, an unclean practice in Islam.

According to Islamic teachings, the dead must be treated with the same respect as the living. This belief stems from the Prophet Mohammed's statement that breaking the bone of a deceased person is akin to breaking it in life. As cremation involves burning the body, it is prohibited, just as breaking the bones of the dead or other forms of mutilation are forbidden.

In Islam, funeral rites are prescribed by divine law, and burial is the only approved method of disposing of a dead body. The body is to be treated with the utmost respect, both before and after death. It is to be washed, shrouded, prayed for, and buried in the earth, with the head facing Mecca. These practices are incompatible with cremation.

The Sikh custom of cremation has led to targeted violence against the community in Afghanistan. In March 2020, members of the Islamic State assaulted a Gurdwara in Shor Bazar, Kabul, killing 25 people. During the procession to the cremation grounds, another explosion detonated remotely occurred close to the mourners.

The loss of access to traditional cremation grounds and the violence perpetrated against them for adhering to their religious customs have made life increasingly difficult for Afghan Sikhs.

In 2020, gunmen killed 25 Sikhs at a religious complex in Kabul

On 25 March 2020, gunmen and suicide bombers raided a Sikh religious complex in Shor Bazaar, Kabul, killing 25 people and injuring eight others. The attack, which lasted for several hours, was carried out by the Islamic State (IS) militant group, although the Afghan government claimed it was conducted by the Haqqani Network.

The day began as usual for the Sikh community, with over 100 residents of the complex beginning their morning worship at around 6 a.m. An hour later, their prayers were interrupted by the sound of gunfire as attackers shot a guard before entering the compound and opening fire in the shrine. Afghan security forces arrived at the scene, and residents fled to other parts of the complex to shelter. The gunmen held many worshippers hostage for several hours as Afghan special forces, aided by international troops, attempted to clear the building. At least one child was among the dead.

The attack ended when the security forces killed all of the attackers. The Afghan special forces rescued around 80 worshippers who had been trapped inside the complex, also known as a Gurdwara.

The Gurdwara in Shor Bazaar was one of the few remaining places of worship for the small Afghan Sikh and Hindu community in Kabul. The community has suffered through conflict and persecution in an increasingly intolerant society, and many Sikh families have chosen to emigrate to other countries.

Most Afghan Sikhs prefer migration to Western countries over India

Afghan Sikhs have been persecuted for decades, facing threats of kidnapping and attempts to forcibly convert them to Islam. They have also been subjected to violence and targeted by criminals and Islamist militants. The community has dwindled from a population of between 200,000 and 500,000 in the 1970s to just 1,350 in recent years.

Despite the Indian government offering citizenship to Afghan Sikhs, many prefer to migrate to Western countries such as Canada, the UK, and the US. This is due to the difficulties faced by Afghan Sikhs in obtaining Indian citizenship in the past, as well as the lack of economic opportunities and ongoing security concerns in India.

In the past, those who migrated to India had to camp inside gurdwaras for years while waiting for their documents to be processed. Even after obtaining citizenship, they struggled to start a new life with little to no support.

On the other hand, Western countries like Canada and the UK offer safer and more prosperous alternatives. These countries have a reputation for being more welcoming to immigrants and providing better economic opportunities and social welfare benefits.

Additionally, the presence of established Afghan Sikh communities in these Western nations may also play a role in their preference for migration. Many Afghan Sikhs already have family members or community ties in these countries, making it easier to settle and find support.

While India has offered priority visas and long-term residency to exiled Afghan Sikhs, it has not yet offered citizenship. This may also be a factor in the preference for migration to Western countries, where they perceive greater stability and opportunities for themselves and their families.

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