Sikhs forced to pay millions to Taleban: Difference between revisions

Convert to Islam, join the jihad or pay five billion rupees

The Taliban issued an ultimatum in March to the elders of more than 25 Sikh families in the Orakzai tribal agency near the Afghan border: Convert to Islam, join the jihad or pay five billion rupees — roughly $62 million — for protection.

‘We couldn’t pay that amount. We were farmers,’ said a young Sikh who asked to be identified only as Singh, because he was too terrified to give his full name or location. He fidgeted nervously, and his voice became little more than a whisper as he recalled the Taliban’s threat to take a Sikh leader to South Waziristan to decide his fate if the extortion money wasn’t paid.

The villagers persuaded the Taliban to reduce the amount to 12 million rupees or $150,000 — still a princely sum for the Sikh community. But Singh said they raised enough money to get their elder released, with a promise to pay the rest by March 29.

On March 28, he said, the Sikhs paid the full amount, and the Taliban promised to protect them anywhere in Pakistan. But by 10 p.m. that day, the Taliban had told Sikh elders they were preparing to attack.

By two a.m., the elders had packed everyone into cars and trucks, and more than 150 Sikhs fled to Peshawar, the provincial capital of the northwest.

‘What are we to do? We have nothing,’ Singh said. ‘We have asked the government of Pakistan, either relocate us to somewhere safe or send us to India.’

Source: al Jazeera, Thurs. March 14th, 2009

50 Sikh families vanished

50 Sikh families have been vanished from Orakzai agency of FATA. After paying over Rs6 million in jizia demanded by the taleban the Sikh's possesions were sold and they were forced to leave the area. Not since the Mughal Empire have Sikhs been threatened with the once hated jizia tax. Sikh bussinesses and homes have been siezed in Orakzai, where the Sikh families have lived for hundreds of years in what is now called FATA, the taleban had ordered the 11 or so families to pay Rs150 million. The Sikhs refused and eleven homes were destroyed.

source Dawn News

Taliban raze houses of Sikhs in Orakzai

• By Abdul Sami Paracha, Thursday, 30 Apr, 2009

KOHAT: The Taliban on Wednesday night demolished 11 houses of the Sikh community in the Orakzai Agency for refusing to pay ‘Jizia’.

The action was ordered by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief for Orakzai Agency, Hakeemullah Mehsud, after the deadline given to the Sikh community for payment of Jazia passed on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Sikh community had postponed its decision about vacating the area following the demand of the Tehrik-i-Taliban for payment of ‘Jazia’ being non-Muslims for their protection.

They gathered in the Merozai area to finalise their decision for leaving the area, but a dispute erupted over the issue among them and the meeting was postponed till Thursday.

The Taliban had asked the Sikh community living in the tribal area for centuries earlier this month to pay annual Jazia because ‘Sharia had been enforced in the area and every non-Muslim had to pay protection money’.

The Sikh community comprising 30 to 35 families shifted from the Feroze Khel area to the nearby Merozai in Lower Orakzai Agency because they could not arrange Rs150 million demanded by the Taliban.

The Taliban had forcibly occupied shops of two Sikh businessmen, Sewa Singh and Kalak Singh, and houses of several Sikhs to force them to pay Jazia. Later, the Sikh community refused to pay Jazia and decided to leave Orakzai and settle in some other area.

Most of tribal families belonging to a particular sect have also migrated to different parts of Hangu and Kohat due to the fear of Taliban.

source Dawn News

Buner Sikhs safe at Punja Sahib, claim Taleban are guarding their homes and businesses

More than 300 hundred Sikhs have traveled from their homes in Buner seeking shelter at Punja Sahib. They say stories of Sikhs being harrassed are untrue and that the taliban have promised to guard their homes and businesses. They report they were leaving only because of the escalating violence.

source Dawn News, Sunday, May 3, 20009