Sikhism in Belgium: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:07, 30 July 2008

Sikhism is a minority religion in Belgium. That being said, Sikhs have played a role in Belgian history for years. In World War I many Sikhs fought in Belgium. A notable example of this is the First Battle of Ypres where an entire platoon of Dogra Sikhs died.Sikhs.org In WWII Sikhs even fought on oposing sides in both the British and German armies in battles across the low countries. (See Sardar Ajit Singh.

Migration to Belgium

The first Sikh settler in Belgium was Sukhdev Singh Jalwehra (in 1985). Before that there had been a handfull of Sikhs, but they all were employees of the Indian Embassy, so as they were only guests in the country they were not counted as inhabitants. However, the first Sikh to set foot on Belgian soil was Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia in 1974. When Jalwehra came to Belgium to live there was a ban on any head covering, especially a turban,being worn in photos for Belgian Pasports and identity cards. Sukhdev Singh fought against this rule and won his case, saving all the Sikhs who have followed from having to deal with such discrimination. In 1993, when the Belgian King Baudouin I died, Sukhdev Singh Jalwerha was part of the group of Sikhs who attended his funeral services at the Royal Palace on behalf of the Belgian Sikh community.

With the political turmoil in Punjab which saw many Sikhs being hunted, tortured and killed the Belgians were gracious enough to open there doors for those seeking a safe port. So the first Sikhs in Belgium were most often male political refugees. They found work mostly in fruit agriculture in Limburg, which has today become the Sikh strong-hold. Later on, more Sikhs arrived for economic reasons, usually from the poorer regions of Punjab. They hoped for a better life for themselves and their children in Belgium. Hard work and frugal living allowed them to send money to their families back in Punjab, to give them financial help. They also worked in the fruit culture industry of Limburg or in night shops in Brussels. With their savings many have purchased or set up their own stores, by preference a night store, often called a night shop. Obtaining official permission and the necessary papers, like their identity cards has often been a long wait.

Incidents

Belgium being the country which gave safe haven to the Hugenots while they were being hunted and exterminated in France has long had freedom of religion -- much of the battles between the Catholic Curch and the Protestant Reformation in and around Belgium. The United States noted in the early 1990s that systematic violence directed against religious minorities or newcomers in Belgium was rare, but an exception to this rule came in 1993 and that exceptiom was waged against its Sikhs. In Sint-Truiden, Sikh workers in agriculture were bullied by some citizens, and eventually one Sikh was shot. A house belonging to Sikhs was also bombed, with no fatalities. There were arrests in the aftermath.

Work

Most Sikhs own night shops in Brussels or are agricultural labourers in Sint-Truiden.

Sikh Gurdwaras

There are 5 Gurudwara's in Belgium. The oldest being in Sint-Truiden (Built in 1987). Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh who came to Belgium in November 2007, and gave a speech raising Khalistan slogans at Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, Sint-Truiden.

The Gurudwaras

1. Gurdwara Sangat Sahib, In Halmaal, Sint-Truiden. (Since 1993)
2. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sahib Cultureel Centrum, In Vilvoorde, Brussels (Since 1999)
3. Gurdwara Guru Ram Dass Sikh Study & Cultural Center, In Borgloon (Since 2005)
4. Gurdwara Sahib Luik/Liege (Since 2005)
5. Gurdwara Nanak Sahib, Sint-Truiden. (Since 2007)

Turban ban in schools

After imposition of a ban, in neighboring France, on the wearing of turbans in schools, Belgium has followed suit and banned this religious symbol of the Sikhs in its educational institutes.

Population

According to a Dutch newspaper there are around 10,000 Sikhs in Belgium, legal and illegal. The Sikh strong-hold is in Sint-Truiden (Limburg), where the first Sikh Gurudwara was built.

By province

Limburg - 3,000
Brussels - 2,000
Flemish Brabant - 1,000
Liege - 1,500
Ghent - 1,000

Sint-Truiden

Sint-Truiden is home to the largest Sikh community in Belgium. In 1984, 6 Sikhs settled in Sint-Truiden. By 1994 the number had grown to about 1000 and today, in 2008, the number is around 2,000 in the Sint-Truiden district of Limburg alone.

Brussels

Scattered around the city of Brussels there are another 1,500 to 2,000 Sikhs. Many of these (some 500-1,000) are illegal and many of them are mona Sikhs (Sikhs who cut their hair, shave or trin their beards). The ones that are keshdhari (keep the 5Ks) are legal and are scattered all around Brussels.

Ghent

In the last few years, the Sikh population of Ghent city and the surrounding areas, mostly villages has increased dramatically. In the 1990s, there were only around 2-3 dozen Sikhs in the whole commune (district) of Ghent. Now, in 2008, there are some 1,000 Sikhs in Ghent and the surrounding areas.

Places with significant Sikh populations

in Limburg

Sint-Truiden
Borgloon
Herk-de-Stad
Alken
Hasselt

in Liège

Liège (city)

in Flemish Brabant

Tienen
Vilvoorde

in West Flanders

Ostend

in East Flanders

Ghent

in Antwerp

Antwerp

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Sikhism]] is a minority religion in [[Belgium]]. That said Sikhs play some role in Belgian history. In [[World War I]] many Sikhs fought in Belgium. A notable example of this is the [[First Battle of Ypres]] where an entire platoon of Dogra Sikhs died.[http://www.sikhs.org/ww1/second.html Sikhs.org]
+[[Sikhism]] is a minority religion in [[Belgium]]. That being said, Sikhs have played a role in Belgian history for years. In [[World War I]] many Sikhs fought in Belgium. A notable example of this is the [[First Battle of Ypres]] where an entire platoon of Dogra Sikhs died.[http://www.sikhs.org/ww1/second.html Sikhs.org] In WWII Sikhs even fought on oposing sides
+in both the British and German armies in battles across the low countries. (See [[Sardar Ajit Singh]].
 ==Migration to Belgium==
+The first Sikh settler in Belgium was [[Sukhdev Singh Jalwehra]] (in [[1985]]). Before that there had been a  handfull of Sikhs, but they all were employees of the Indian Embassy, so as they were only guests in the country they were not counted as inhabitants. However, the first Sikh to set foot on Belgian soil was Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia in 1974. When Jalwehra came to Belgium to live there was a ban on any head covering, especially a turban,being worn in photos for Belgian Pasports and identity cards. Sukhdev Singh fought against this rule and won his case, saving all the Sikhs who have followed from having to deal with such discrimination. In 1993, when the Belgian King Baudouin I died, Sukhdev Singh Jalwerha was part of the group of Sikhs who attended his funeral services at the Royal Palace on behalf of the Belgian Sikh community.
-The first Sikh settler in Belgium was [[Sukhdev Singh Jalwehra]] (in [[1985]]). Before there were also handfull Sikhs, but all Indian Embassy employees, so can't count as first Sikh inhabitants. However, the first Sikh to set a foot on Belgian soil, was Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, in 1974. When Jalwehra came, there was a ban on photo with the person wearing a turban for a passport or identity card. Sukhdev fought the case and won, and Sikhs where allowed to wear a turban on photos for a passport or identity card. In 1993, when the Belgian King Baudouin I died, Sukhdev Singh Jalwerha went to the palace of the King along with some other Sikhs as the representative of the whole Belgian Sikh community.
+With the political turmoil in Punjab which saw many Sikhs being hunted, tortured and killed the Belgians were gracious enough to open there doors for those seeking a safe port. So the first Sikhs in Belgium were most often male political refugees. They found work mostly in fruit agriculture in Limburg, which has today become the Sikh strong-hold. Later on, more Sikhs arrived for economic reasons, usually from the poorer regions of Punjab. They hoped for a better life for themselves and their children in Belgium. Hard work and frugal living allowed them to send money to their families back in Punjab, to give them financial help. They also worked in the fruit culture industry of  Limburg or in night shops in Brussels. With their savings many have purchased or set up their own stores, by preference a night store, often called a night shop. Obtaining official permission and the necessary papers, like their identity cards has often been a long wait.
-The first Sikhs in Belgium were especially male political refugees. They work(ed) mostly in fruit agriculture in Limburg, were the Sikh strong-hold is. Later on Sikhs arrived for economic reasons. These Sikhs were from the poorer regions of Punjab, they migrated to Belgium, trying to obtain a better life. These Sikhs after earning hard, send the money to their family back in Punjab, to give them financial help. They also work in the fruit culture in Limburg or in night shops in Brussels. If they can permit it themselves, they set up an own store, by preference a night store, often called a night shop. Many wait to obtain on the decision of the necessary papers they need, like the identity card.
 ==Incidents==
-In 1994, the government of the United States noted that while Belgium has freedom of religion and has not seen much systematic violence directed against religious minorities or newcomers, an exception to the general rule came in 1993 against Sikhs.  In Sint-Truiden, Sikh workers in agriculture were bullied by some citizens, and eventually one Sikh was shot.  A house belonging to Sikhs was also bombed, with no fatalities.  There were arrests in the aftermath.
+Belgium being the country which gave safe haven to the Hugenots while they were being hunted and exterminated in France has long had freedom of religion -- much of the battles between the Catholic Curch and the Protestant Reformation in and around Belgium. The United States noted in the early 1990s that  systematic violence directed against religious minorities or newcomers in Belgium was rare, but an exception to this rule came in 1993 and that exceptiom was waged against its Sikhs.  In Sint-Truiden, Sikh workers in agriculture were bullied by some citizens, and eventually one Sikh was shot.  A house belonging to Sikhs was also bombed, with no fatalities.  There were arrests in the aftermath.
 ==Work==
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 == Sikh Gurdwaras==
-There are 5 Gurudwara's in Belgium. The oldest being in Sint-Truiden (Made in 1987). Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh who came to Belgium in November 2007, gave a speech and raised Khalistan slogans at Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, Sint-Truiden.
+There are 5 Gurudwara's in Belgium. The oldest being in Sint-Truiden (Built in 1987). Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh who came to Belgium in November 2007, and gave a speech raising Khalistan slogans at Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, Sint-Truiden.
 The Gurudwaras
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ==Turban ban in schools==
-After imposition of a ban by [[France]] on wearing turbans in schools, [[Belgium]] too has followed suit and banned the religious symbols of the Sikhs in their educational institutes.
+After imposition of a ban, in neighboring [[France]], on the wearing of turbans in schools, [[Belgium]] has followed suit and banned this religious symbol of the Sikhs in its educational institutes.
 ==Population==
-According a Dutch newspaper there are around 10,000 Sikhs in Belgium, legal and illegal. The Sikh strong-hold is in [[Sint-Truiden]] ([[Limburg]]), where the first Sikh [[Gurudwara]] was built.
+According to a Dutch newspaper there are around 10,000 Sikhs in Belgium, legal and illegal. The Sikh strong-hold is in [[Sint-Truiden]] ([[Limburg]]), where the first Sikh [[Gurudwara]] was built.
 ===By province===
 #Limburg - 3,000
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 #Ghent - 1,000
 ===Sint-Truiden===
-Sint-Truiden is home to the largest Sikh community in Belgium. There are some 2,000. In 1984, 6 Sikhs settles down in Sint-Truiden. In 1994, some 1000 Sikhs were living there. And by 2008, there are some 2000 Sikhs living in Sint-Truiden district of Limburg alone.
+Sint-Truiden is home to the largest Sikh community in Belgium. In 1984, 6 Sikhs settled in Sint-Truiden. By 1994 the number had grown to about 1000 and today, in 2008,  the number is around 2,000 in the Sint-Truiden district of Limburg alone.
 ===Brussels===
-In whole Brussels there are some 1,500-2,000 Sikhs. Many of them (some 500-1,000) are illegal and mona Sikhs (Sikhs who have haircuts and shave). The ones that are keshdhari and legal, are scattered all around Brussels.
+Scattered around the city of Brussels there are another 1,500 to 2,000 Sikhs. Many of these (some 500-1,000) are illegal and many of them are mona Sikhs (Sikhs who cut their hair, shave or trin their beards). The ones that are keshdhari (keep the 5Ks) are legal and are scattered all around Brussels.
 ===Ghent===
-In the last few years, the Sikh population of Ghent city and the surrounding areas, mostly villages has increased dramatically. In 1990s, there were only around 2-3 dozen Sikhs in the whole commune (district). Now, in 2008, there are some 1,000 Sikhs in Ghent and the surrounding areas.
+In the last few years, the Sikh population of Ghent city and the surrounding areas, mostly villages has increased dramatically. In the 1990s, there were only around 2-3 dozen Sikhs in the whole commune (district) of Ghent. Now, in 2008, there are some 1,000 Sikhs in Ghent and the surrounding areas.
 ==Places with significant Sikh populations==