Sikh Assembly of America Congressional Briefing
The Sikh Assembly of America, in collaboration with the International Defenders Council, organized a Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC, to engage top U.S. leaders and staff. The aim was to educate and raise awareness on the extreme religious freedom and human rights violations occurring in North America.
Among the key speakers were:
-Pawan Singh, the Executive Director of Sikh Assembly of America, who highlighted the critical issues facing the Sikh community.
-Simarjyot Singh, a Founding Member of SAA, who emphasized the need for increased advocacy and awareness.
-Reverend Peter Cook from the New York State Council of Churches, who brought a unique perspective on interfaith solidarity and religious freedom.
-Peter Friedrich, a journalist and human rights activist who specializes in analyzing the role of religious nationalism in South Asia. His work has been instrumental in drawing international attention to these issues.
-Neal Christie, the new Executive Director of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA), who shared insights on the broader implications of religious persecution in India and its impact on diaspora communities.
Congressman Greg Pence (Indiana) addressed the ongoing repression of Sikhs and Khalistan leaders residing in the United States and Canada, expressing concern for American citizens and urging Sikhs to raise more awareness about transnational repression.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Asif Mahmood delivered a powerful statement in support of the Sikh Assembly of America and expressed his concern for Khalistan leaders who are being violently targeted by the Government of India. Commissioner Mahmood specifically mentioned the ongoing cases of Khalistan activists Bhai Jagtar Singh Johal (UK) and Bhai Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, urging the United States Department of State to highlight these issues. IDC was pleased to organize a Congressional Briefing on US Capitol Hill to engage top U.S. leaders and staff on July 24th. The aim was to educate and raise awareness on the extreme religious freedom and human rights violations occurring in North America.
