United Sikhs Helps ‘Taliban’ Victims (Sikh Mother and Daughter) Find Asylum in Canada

October 8, 2010 by United Sikhs Newsletter 

“We are very happy that the open hearts and minds of the Canadian government and people have given Harender Kaur and her daughter a new life here after they fought a gallant and lone battle as refugees in Pakistan,” said Ranbir Singh, UNITED SIKHS Director who met the Sikh mother and daughter on arrival in Canada.

Winnipeg, Canada - 6th Oct 2010 - A Sikh woman and her daughter flew into Winnipeg last week, after her husband was brutally killed two years ago by a group suspected to be the Taliban, near Peshawar.

The pair were granted asylum by the Canadian government after the brutal slaying of the head of their family, Balwant Singh. UNITED SIKHS has provided help to Harender Kaur, 42, and her daughter, Ilmid Kaur, 14, since we ‘found’ them amongst other Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistan, where they had taken refuge after the killing.

Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur being honoured by the Dy Premier of Manitoba, Hon Eric Robinson . From left to right: Giani Kewal Singh, Mr.Kavin (with microphone) , Deputy Premier, Hon. Eric Robinson, Harender Kaur, Ilmid Kaur, Mayoral Candidate, Judy W Leis. and Local M.L.A, Mr. Mohinder Sran

On 23 November 2008, a militant group, believed to be the Taliban, kidnapped Balwant Singh from his shop near Peshawar, in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). They kept him hostage before slaying him and his body was found two days later 20 km away. This left Harender Kaur and her daughter alone and destitute and they took refuge 125 km away at the Panja Sahib Gurdwara.

Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur being met by representatives of the Sikh community in Winnipeg: From left to right in the front row: Giani Kewal Singh, President Khalsa Divan Society of Manitoba, Azizeh Ferdowsi, Resettlement Counsellor, Ilmid Kaur, Harender Kaur and Ranbir Singh (UNITED SIKHS director). Back row, left to right: Jaswant Singh, Gurpreet Kaur, Dilbagh Singh and Arvinder Kaur

In July 2009, UNITED SIKHS AID volunteers, who were in Pakistan to provide relief during the Pakistan IDP crisis, heard of Harender Kaur’s plight and that they had no other family in Pakistan and wanted to be reunited with other family members in the United Kingdom.

“Our humanitarian relief volunteers got in touch with our advocacy team in the UK to contact Harender Kaur’s family and to provide assistance with their asylum application,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS Legal Director based in London, who led a team of case workers and lawyers in this asylum case.

“We requested the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), who were handling their asylum application, to reunite the duo with their family in the UK. But we were told that their chances of obtaining asylum in Canada were better. We, therefore, obtained supporting evidence from their UK family which we submitted to the UNHCR,” She added.

Soon after their arrival in Winnipeg, Harender Kaur and Ilmid Kaur were honoured by the Deputy Premier of Manitoba, Hon. Eric Robinson, at a fund raising dinner for Winnipeg Mayor Candidate, Judy W Leis. At an event organized by the Sikh Society of Manitoba, they received siropas (robes of honour) from the renowned Ragi Nirmal Singh, Khalsa Hazoori Ragi of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. This event was attended by the management of all eight Winnipeg Gurdwaras who had gathered to meet them with the congregation.

When they flew into Canada last week, UNITED SIKHS director based in Toronto, Ranbir Singh, joined them in Winnipeg, where he had made arrangements for them to be warmly received by representatives of the Winnipeg Sikh community.

“We are very happy that the open hearts and minds of the Canadian government and people have given Harender Kaur and her daughter a new life here after they fought a gallant and lone battle as refugees in Pakistan,” said Ranbir Singh.

“When we arrived at Winnipeg airport, we were received by community leaders, Giani Kewal Singh and Darshan Singh Brar, and their families. It has been a hectic line up of activities for the duo, as community leaders including Giani Jaswant Singh have made many arrangements to make them comfortable. We have a doctor who said he will do house visits if they need him; a driving instructor who said he will teach them driving for free; they are invited to Sikh homes for meals everyday and the list of help offered is long,” he added. (Courtesy: Sikh Net)