According to the UK Sikh Survey 2016, almost one in five Sikhs has encountered discrimination in a public place over the past year and one in seven has directly experienced workplace discrimination.
The Sikh Federation, who published the comprehensive survey, said British Sikhs have been “invisible to the government since 9/11”.
The report found that Sikhs who wear religious iconography or clothing are most likely to experience abuse, with men more vulnerable than women. The most common places where discrimination is experiences are airports and public transport.
The poll of 4,500 Sikhs in the UK, conducted online, in written questionnaires and in face-to-face interviews, was managed by the Sikh Network. It provides a comprehensive picture of the community, say the authors. The survey found that more than two-thirds of Sikhs were born in Britain and nine out of 10 describe their nationality as British. The overwhelming majority reject being described as Indian or Asian.
What is your experience of being a British Sikh? Have you been a recent victim of discrimination or hate crimes? How has the situation changed over the last 10-20 years?
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