Jagtar Singh Jaggi Petition

[Premi]

Just signed petition. We need more to do so!

https://www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-mp-free-jagtar-singh-johal

[dalsingh101]

Sturgeon urges Raab to assist Scottish Sikh man allegedly tortured in India

First minister raises ‘deep concerns’ about case of Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been imprisoned for four years awaiting trial

 

Jagtar Singh Johal, centre, being escorted to a court in Punjab state in 2017. He is facing the death penalty after allegedly being tortured into confessing involvement in a terrorist conspiracy. Photograph: Shammi Mehra/AFP/Getty Images

 

Libby Brooks

Sun 22 Aug 2021 14.52 BST

 

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Nicola Sturgeon has written to the embattled foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, urging him to intervene in the case of a Scottish Sikh man who has been imprisoned in India for nearly four years awaiting trial, and is facing the death penalty after a confession allegedly extracted under torture.

In Sturgeon’s first formal intervention on the case, seen exclusively by the Guardian, the first minister expresses the Scottish government’s “deep concerns” about Jagtar Singh Johal’s detention without trial – as well as his allegations of torture and mistreatment by Indian authorities while in custody.

 

The letter adds further pressure on the UK government after nearly 140 parliamentarians, including the former Brexit secretary David Davis, the former international development secretary Hilary Benn and the SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, wrote to Raab in February asking him to seek Jagtar’s release.

 

Jagtar is being supported by the legal NGO Reprieve, whose deputy director Harriet McCulloch described his situation as “as clear a case of arbitrary detention as we’ve come across”. She said that, despite numerous court appearances, his trial has been repeatedly delayed at the request of the prosecution, with basic information denied to his defence counsel.

McCulloch said that Jagtar, a Sikh human rights activist from Dumbarton, was violently arrested in Punjab, northern India, in October 2017, after which he was tortured with electricity into confessing his involvement in an alleged terrorist conspiracy.

It has been alleged he provided £3,000 to a Sikh who was planning to kill members of the extremist nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a charge he denies.

 

In the letter, Sturgeon urges Raab to personally meet Jagtar’s family after her own meeting with his brother Gurpreet Singh Johal this month.

“Gurpreet expressed his disappointment with the support his brother and their family have received from the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]. He also questioned why the British prime minister did not raise Jagtar’s case with the Indian prime minister in April this year.”

Boris Johnson has endeavoured to cement economic ties with India as part of the UK government’s wider foreign policy strategy by holding online talks with its prime minister, Narenda Modi, in May and during the G7 summit in Cornwall in June.

Gurpreet Singh Johal told the Guardian: “I am very grateful for the Scottish government’s support, but my brother really needs the Westminster government to seek his release and bring him home.

“Our family is devastated that almost four years after he was abducted and tortured, the Foreign Office has still not fulfilled its promise to take ‘extreme action’ on his case. I hope the foreign secretary will meet with me and do everything in his power to save Jaggi’s life.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/22/sturgeon-urges-raab-to-assist-scottish-sikh-man-allegedly-tortured-in-india

[Premi]

 

 

[Kaur10]

We are not safe in India.  Justice system is crap,  corrupted police,  liar media,  its like living in jungle.  So many organisations tried to help jaggi, but no positive result so far. 

May Waheguru bless him with chardi kala! May Waheguru help him from torture!  May Waheguru release him from indian prison! 

[GurjantGnostic]

The 1980's called. They want their mustache back. 

[Premi]

 

 

[GurjantGnostic]

13 hours ago, Premi said:

 

 

If we were terrorists would they not all be on fire?

[Premi]

 

 

 

[Premi]

On 11/20/2017 at 10:01 PM, chatanga1 said:

Please consider signing this petition and spreading awareness about it on social media. Jaggi runs the neverforget84.com website and has been picked up by ravan sena aka panjab police about a month ago. Respect to this brother who has done so much in keeping the information of 1984 accessible for the wider public.

UK govt as usual is showing how weak they are in assisting british citizens of colour abroad.

 

https://www.change.org/p/mp-justice-for-jagtar-singh-johal-juggi

 

 

[Premi]

 

 

[Premi]

 

 

[Premi]

 

https://saintsoldiers.net/sikh-politicians-mum-on-jagtar-singh-johal-case/

NOV 15, 2017

Sikh Politicians Quiet on Jagtar Singh Johal Case1 MINUTE READ

 

We elect members of the Sikh community to positions of power such as Members of Parliament, Defence Ministers, National Party Leader and more, because we believe they can relate to our issues and be our voice in government. I am appalled at how quiet various Sikh politicans around the world have been. The occasional Sikh politican has sent an obligatory social media post but have not raised their voice where it matters.

I cant help but to think these politicans are more concerned about their mainstream image if they speak up for the #FreeJaggiNow campaign. The irony is that atleast a few of these politicans became leaders using the issue of Sikh genocide as a stepping stone into politics, and that is why we the Sikh community backed them.

My priority is and always be #Slough constituents. If you are not from Slough, your first point of call should always be your own Member of Parliament. Strict parliamentary rules prohibit all MP’s from taking up matters on behalf of non-constituents. I hope that clears that up for you

– Tan Dhesi

Specifically, the British Minister of Parliament Tanmanjeet (Tan) Dhesi did not raise the issue of Jaggi in his parliament appearance and rather spoke of the comparatively insignificant topic of railroads. When he appeared on an interview for @akaalchannel to address the community taking offense to this his response was that he is governed strictly by parliamentary rules. His response to not appearing at the London protest alongside Sikh MP Preet Gill was that he feared for his safety and that of his staff

 

 

 

[Premi]

https://www.sikhpa.com/he-has-been-targeted-for-freedom-of-expression-it-has-cost-him-four-years-freejagginow-parliament-debate/

“He has been targeted for freedom of expression…it has cost him four years” – #FreeJaggiNow parliament debate

July 7, 2021/in News /

A UK Parliament debate regarding the ongoing imprisonment of Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal took place last week. The debate was arranged by Johal’s constituency MP Martin Docherty-Hughes, from the Scottish National Party (SNP) in West Dunbartonshire.

Jagtar Singh Johal, also known as Jaggi, travelled to Punjab with his father and two brothers in October 2017 for his wedding. He is known among the Sikh community for highlighting issues around the Sikh genocide of 1984. When out shopping with his wife, he had a sack thrown over his head and was bundled into a van. Days later he was implicated on terror charges. He has since reported being tortured to the UK Consulate. Over three years later, he has not been formally charged with a crime.

The case has become a huge international talking point for all Sikhs as it is viewed as reflecting an ongoing issue of the imprisonment of Sikh political prisoners in India. British opposition MPs raised issues of torture at the hands of Indian police, undue legal process and arbitrary detention. They also criticised the inaction from the UK government in ensuring Johal’s human rights and securing his release. No MPs of the in-power Conservative party contributed to the debate which took place on 30th June.

During the debate Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry asked: “Why has he faced these basic violations of his rights?” 

“Prior to his arrest, Jagtar was involved in raising awareness of human rights abuses against India’s Sikh population. Human rights organisation Reprieve fears that he has been targeted for exercising freedom of expression and his right to it. It has already cost him four years in prison without trial.”

Sultana’s sentiments were echoed by independent MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, who said: “Although the UK Government are anxious to improve relations with India so they can secure a post-Brexit trade deal, the UK-India relationship, and indeed all our diplomatic efforts, must be deeper than just trade. They should be based on the promotion of democracy, human rights and upholding international law. The Government must do all they can to ensure Jagtar’s safety and release.”

Tan Dhesi, the first dastaar (Sikh turban) wearing Sikh MP in Parliament and MP for Slough underlined that this matter is of huge importance not only to those directly affected but to the wider Sikh community. 

“Indeed, many of my Slough constituents have contacted me to express their anger and dismay at the Conservative Government’s inaction over Jagtar and his family,” he said. “I share their concerns. Reports that Mr Johal has been subject to torture are deeply worrying, and must be treated with the utmost seriousness. We must be clear that there is no place for the use of torture or mistreatment anywhere in the world, yet this Government do not seem to want to raise that with the Indian authorities or seek to verify the claims.”

Responding for the government to the points raised by opposition MPs was Britain’s Minister for Asia Nigel Adams, who said that the government “will continue to do all that we can to support Mr Johal and to ensure that he is treated in accordance with Indian and international law”. 

“His case remains a priority for the UK Government, and it must be resolved in line with due process and without unreasonable delay,” he added.

Speaking to online magazine Baaz in response to the debate, Edgbaston MP for Labour Preet Kaur Gill said: “There’s a lot of criticism being levelled towards the government not doing enough for citizens and Jagtar Singh Johal is a British citizen and we should be doing everything we possibly can to help support and it’s not good enough that the government has continued to say they are raising the matters with India.  

“What we need to know is what is it that they are raising and why they are not calling for the release which is in accordance with their policy, we need to see action, we need to stop seeing that this is a government that doesn’t care about the Sikh community in the UK and it’s really got to be listening and engaging with them in the way it hasn’t been doing so today.”

And Johal’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal commented: “Overall the response was disappointing and to be honest not surprised as the Government has continuously deflected from the serious issues. 140 Parliamentarians have called for Jagtar’s release and it was evident that a trade deal is more important than an individual’s life.”

 

[Premi]

 

 

[Premi]

 

 

 

 

[Premi]

 

 

[GurjantGnostic]

1 hour ago, Premi said:

 

 

Just making us strong and showing themselves weak. It's going to bite them in the ass. 

[Premi]

 

 

 

[Premi]

 

 

[Premi]

Global prayers for Jaggi as Scot Jagtar Singh Johal turns 35 in Indian jail

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19909334.global-prayers-jaggi-scot-jagtar-singh-johal-turns-35-indian-jail/

By Kirsteen Paterson  @kapatersonJournalist

Jasbir Singh Johal, left, father of Jagtar Singh Johal, at home in Dumbarton with his son Gurpreet Singh Johal and his wife Mandip Kaur

 

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FIVE years ago Jagtar Singh Johal’s family sat down with him for a birthday feast of homemade chilli paneer.

His father and grandmother were there, as were his brother and sister-in-law and his young nephews.

The blogger and activist was turning 30 and preparing for marriage – as well as the age milestone, this would be his final birthday as a single man.

But the Dumbarton family didn’t know it would be the last birthday they’d share with him before he’d be taken from his new bride on the street, bundled into an unmarked van and enter what is now considered by international justice charities as arbitrary detention.

It’s been five years since that day they sat down to that meal; Jagtar’s favourite dish prepared at home by his sister-in-law Mandip Kaur. On his 35th birthday, the family cannot see him in his Indian jail cell, cannot speak to him as he still awaits trial after more than four years of imprisonment, cannot celebrate with him.

But they can and will pray for his release – as will Sikhs in around 50 gurdwaras around on four continents in a co-ordinated day of action.

[GurjantGnostic]

12 hours ago, Premi said:

Global prayers for Jaggi as Scot Jagtar Singh Johal turns 35 in Indian jail

 

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19909334.global-prayers-jaggi-scot-jagtar-singh-johal-turns-35-indian-jail/

By Kirsteen Paterson  @kapatersonJournalist

Jasbir Singh Johal, left, father of Jagtar Singh Johal, at home in Dumbarton with his son Gurpreet Singh Johal and his wife Mandip Kaur

 

     0 comment

 

FIVE years ago Jagtar Singh Johal’s family sat down with him for a birthday feast of homemade chilli paneer.

His father and grandmother were there, as were his brother and sister-in-law and his young nephews.

The blogger and activist was turning 30 and preparing for marriage – as well as the age milestone, this would be his final birthday as a single man.

But the Dumbarton family didn’t know it would be the last birthday they’d share with him before he’d be taken from his new bride on the street, bundled into an unmarked van and enter what is now considered by international justice charities as arbitrary detention.

It’s been five years since that day they sat down to that meal; Jagtar’s favourite dish prepared at home by his sister-in-law Mandip Kaur. On his 35th birthday, the family cannot see him in his Indian jail cell, cannot speak to him as he still awaits trial after more than four years of imprisonment, cannot celebrate with him.

But they can and will pray for his release – as will Sikhs in around 50 gurdwaras around on four continents in a co-ordinated day of action.

You think the rate the united states goes into debt, creating this huge defecit is staggering?

You can only imagine what the Karam accounts look like fir hindustan.  

[Premi]

6 minutes ago, GurjantGnostic said:

You think the rate the united states goes into debt, creating this huge defecit is staggering?

You can only imagine what the Karam accounts look like fir hindustan.  

India haven't killed thousands of people abroad (yet)

[GurjantGnostic]

21 hours ago, Premi said:

India haven't killed thousands of people abroad (yet)

True. They clearly would if able unfortunately. Karam accounts are really bad across the board one way or another. 

[Premi]

 

 

[Premi]