Simranjit Singh Mann

Simranjeet Singh Mann

Simranjit Singh Mann is the leader of the Sikh's peaceful struggle in Punjab to achieve an independent homeland, Khalistan. He has fought tirelessly for social justice for ethnic and religious minorities. In this pursuit Mr. Mann has been arrested or detained some 30 times but he has never been convicted.

Mr. Mann was detained in 1984 after resigning his post as Commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force (I.P.S.) in Bombay; this action was in protest to India's deadly attack of the Sikhs most sacred shrine Hari Mandir (Golden Temple). He was charged, among other things, with conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was severely tortured, kept in solitary confinement but was unconditionally released with all charges dropped after five years in prison. He was released officially "in the interests of the State," in November 1989 after being elected in absentia to India's Parliament by an overwhelming mandate in the State of Punjab. Mr. Mann was denied his legal and constitutional right to enter parliament. Mr. Mann is one of India's "Nelson Mandela’s", a prisoner of conscience.

The remaining Sikh dissenting leadership have been murdered, de-famed, jailed & tortured or live now in exile and would risk death if they were to return to India. Today there are still thousands of Sikhs held in India's prisons with no charges, no bail and no legal representation.

In May 1993, while campaigning in support of a candidate during the Jalandhar by-elections, an assassination attempt was made on Mr. Mann by a gunman associated with a politician in the opposing Indian National Congress Party. However, no charges were ever brought against the alleged gunmen. Mr. Mann has some powerful political enemies. Some of which are suspects by Amnesty International for many serious Human Rights violations such as murder, torture and rape.

Mr. Mann has lived behind an Indian Berlin wall since 1990. Mr. Mann was denied a passport on the grounds, that his going abroad would be a threat to the security and integrity of India.

After Mr. Mann was elected to the Indian Parliament, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 3, 1999, ordered the Union of India and the Passport Office in Chandigarh, to issue a passport to Mr. Mann.