Beheading of Sikhs by Taliban in Pakistan shameful and cowardly-SAHRA (South
Asians for Human Rights Association) demands Action

TORONTO, Feb. 22 /CNW/ - Pakistani Taliban beheaded two Sikhs, Jaspal Singh & Mahal Singh,and dumped their heads at a Sikh Temple in Peshawar, over ransom money totalling Rs.30 million, Pakistani media reports on Sunday said. There are also other media outlet reports of forceful conversion to Islam.

SAHRA held a round table meeting in Toronto in May 2009 on Minorities Human rights, where Alberta MP Tim Uppal, on behalf of Min. Bev Oda, announced $5 million aid for displaced refugees in aid for Pakistan as well as Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti vowed to protect Sikhs in Pakistan from Taliban controlled region; but the atrocities of Taliban have continued there since.

"It is a shameful and cowardly act by Taliban and we demand action by both Pakistan and the world community as a whole, especially after the stern promise of Pak Government to protect the minorities, right here in Toronto. Allowing these atrocities to continue is simply unacceptable," says SAHRA chair Roger Nair.

SAHRA is constantly working to create awareness about atrocities on minorities in Pakistan that include blasphemy law, and imposing jazia,and making minorities wearing yellow symbols to segregate them from Muslim majority.

www.HumanRightsCanada.org

For further information: Roger Nair, [phone]; Shan Padda, [phone]