Afghan Sikhs under threat to either convert to Islam or leave Afghanistan
The security scenario in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, Sikhs — a community that was already in a dire situation before the collapse of the government – practically have to make a choice between “converting to Sunni Islam or run away” from Afghanistan, said a report.
The larger numbers of Sikhs live in Kabul while some in the provinces of Ghazni and Nangarhar.
The Sikhs which once numbered in the tens of thousands are now ruined and devastated by years of emigration and death. They have been in an appalling situation by the forces driven by both systemic discrimination and an uptick in fanatical religious violence in Afghanistan.
International Forum For Rights and Security (IFFRAS) said the larger numbers of Sikhs live in Kabul while some are in the provinces of Ghazni and Nangarhar.
On the 5th of October, 15 to 20 terrorists barged the Gurdwara and tied the guards up. The incident took place in Kabul’s Kart-e-Parwan district.
Last year in June an Afghan Sikh leader was kidnapped, reportedly by ‘terrorists’.
There have been numerous Sikh riots earlier in Afghanistan.
The attacks and violence against Sikhs by radical Islamists are common in Afghanistan.
Most Afghan Sikhs are already leaving for India, said IFFRAS.
Further, the forum highlighted that as the people of the Sikh community don’t fall under the mainstream Sunni sect of Islam, they are either meant to be forcefully converted as Sunni Muslims or killed. The Taliban ‘government’ will never allow diversity to thrive in the Afghan state and society. The strictest form of Islamic code with tribal customs will result in the annihilation of all the minority sects of Afghanistan, including Sikhs, reports ANI.
India is closely monitoring the situation and the Indian mission in Kabul has already issued an advisory for Indian nationals earlier this week.
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