Sikhism in Belgium

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] ]

Migration to Belgium

The first Sikh in Belgium was Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia (in 1974).Fact|date=February 2007 Most of the Sikhs who came prior to 1985 (just a handfull, like Jarnail Singh Alhuwalia) were working in the Indian Embassy and cannot be regarded as first Sikh inhabitants of Belgium. Fact|date=September 2008 Proper Sikhs started coming after Sukhdev Singh Jalwehra came in 1985. When he came there was a ban on a photo with the person wearing a turban for a passport or identity card. Jalwehra fought the case and won, and Sikhs where allowed to wear a turban on photos for a passport or identity card.Fact|date=February 2007 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.

The first Sikhs who arrived in Belgium were predominantly male political fugitives. Let alone some exeptions, they were all low educated labourers. Since they were used to working in agriculture, they looked for jobs in that sector. Especially in the Flemish province of Limburg, they were employed as seasonal workers in fruit cultivation firms. Later on Sikhs arrived for economical reasons. These are Sikhs who had been living in empoverished regions of Punjab that came looking for a better life here. They also found employment in fruit cultivation firms. When they can afford to do so, they establish their own shops, particularly night shops. A lot of them are awaiting the dispatching of their file needed to require the necessary forms. Generally, the Sikh men arrived alone in Belgium. They chared a rented house dividing the costs. The latest years, Sikh women are coming to Belgium too. A number of them do so in terms of family reunion.

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. [U.S. Department of State, " [http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1993_hrp_report/93hrp_report_eur/Belgium.html BELGIUM HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES, 1993] ," January 31, 1994, URL accessed January 11, 2007.]

Work

Most Sikhs own night shops in Brussels or are agricultural labourers in Sint-Truiden.Fact|date=March 2007

Sikh Gurdwaras

There are 5 Gurudwara's in Belgium. The oldest being in Sint-Truiden (Made in 1993).Fact|date=March 2007 Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh who came to Belgium in November 2007, gave a speech and raised Khalistan slogans at Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, Sint-Truiden.

The Gurudwaras

1. Gurudwara Sangat Sahib, In Watermaal, Sint-Truiden. (Since 1993)

2. Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib Cultureel Centrum, In Vilvoorde, Brussels (Since 1999)

3. Gurudwara Guru Ram Dass Sikh Study & Cultural Center, In Borgloon (Since 2005)

4. In Luik/Liege (Since 2005)

5. Guru Nanak Sikh Society, Sint-Truiden. (Since 2006)

Turban ban in schools

After imposition of a ban by France on wearing turbans in schools, some Belgian schools also banned the religious symbols of the Sikhs in their educational institutes. Fact|date=March 2008

Population

According a Dutch newspaper there are around 10,000 Sikhs in Belgium. [ [http://www.brusselnieuws.be/site/rubrieken/1091100512/page.htm?&newsID=1136986257 Dutch newspaper on Sikhs celebrating Maghi in Brussels] ] The Sikh strong-hold is in Sint-Truiden (Limburg), where the first Sikh Gurudwara was built. There are around 3,000 Sikhs in Limburg, 2000 in Liege and more than 2,000 in BrusselsFact|date=March 2008. All remaining (unlikely over 2,000) are scattered all around Belgium.

Places with a significant Sikh population

*Vilvoorde
*Sint-Truiden
*Liège (city)
*Borgloon
*Tienen
*Ostend
*Ghent
*Antwerp
*Leuven
*Alken
*Hasselt

References

External links

* [http://www.gurdwarabrussel.org/index1.htm Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib in Brussels]