| R –V– Athwal & Athwal. The Surjit Athwal Murder Case - Sentencing |
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Metropolitan Police Sikh Association (MPSA) Press Statement. Surjit Kaur Athwal Central Criminal Court Murder Trial “Whosoever takes food from the slayers of daughters, Shall die unabsolved” (Guru Gobind Singh, Rehat nameh, pp.385. Cunningham, J.D. History of the Sikhs. 1st Publ: 1849). The MPSA, taking a clear steer from the Sikh Religion, condemns crimes against women, including Honour Killings. However, we accept that Sikhs, reverting to their Punjabi culture which is ingrained deeply in their psyche and belief system, are responsible for many girls like Surjit disappearing without trace. The outcome of the trial sends out a clear message to those that hide behind Sikhism to justify their horrendous crimes. Again we acknowledge the persistence, patience and incredible bravery of the family and witnesses who have provided truthful testimonies leading to this landmark murder conviction. We thank DCI Clive Driscoll for his tenacity, tact and compassion for this investigation and awareness of the broader issues. Honour Killing is the MPSA’s annual priority and we shall be working closely with the MPS and support organisations. The MPSA hope that this verdict and the life sentence of 20 years for 70-year-old Bachan Kaur Athwal and 27 years for Sukhdave Singh Athwal will not only deter offenders, but offer real hope to those that are suffering from violence and abuse can rest assured that the British Legal System treats this crime extremely seriously. The MPSA urge those that feel at risk of forced marriage, violence and abuse to contact the police. For Press: For further info contact MPSA 020 7230 0141 or Chair Micky Singh 07786 126531. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it We can provide interviews around our work on HBV and also speak specifically about Surjit’s case. The MPSA together with key partners will be holding an event on 04/12/07at a Central London location (to be arranged). The main issues resulting from Surjit's and other cases will be published. The event will be an appeal to Sikhs as individuals and/or associations to contact the MPSA. There is a lot of work already being carried out (by Sikhs and non-Sikhs) and it is important that it is as effective as possible. There are also many who call themselves "Sikhs" who have notably been silent, have not assisted and have even criticised us for carrying out this work. Following the response from the appeal, we will devise a strategy to tackle the issues together. The community must take responsibility for preventing and to help detect these appalling crimes. For more information, contact the MPSA office or the chair, Micky Singh. The above statement is independently provided by the MPSA. |