<div>International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) gets special mention due to political pressure exerted by India
By TEJASHDEEP SINGH
London (July 24, 2011): The ISYF was banned in the UK more than 10 years ago in March 2001 and this was widely acknowledged at that time by many UK politicians, including Ministers that this was a direct result of pressure from the Indian authorities.
After considerable working behind the scenes with politicians from across the political spectrum for more than two and a half years the Sikh Federation (UK) was set up in September 2003 and is now recognised as the leading lobbying Sikh organisation in the UK and Europe.
It is also well known that the Indian authorities have for many years been complaining to the UK Government the Sikh Federation (UK) is the successor body to the ISYF and should therefore be banned. The UK Government and all the main political parties to their credit are however on record as recognising the Sikh Federation (UK) is a legitimate organisation operating within the law and has every right to continue its activities, even though India may find these activities objectionable.
Earlier this week David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of the operation of the terrorist legislation presented a 100+ page report to the UK Parliament where he made specific reference to the ISYF and the pressure exerted by foreign governments. He has reached a number of conclusions and made recommendations in his report to Parliament. He has confirmed:
i) Banning of some organisations is heavily influenced by foreign policy concerns and this is being used to appease other governments. He has concluded there are significant obstacles of a political or foreign policy nature that makes the lifting of the ban on some organisations difficult as this would be unpalatable to foreign governments.
ii) It is too easy and convenient for the UK Government to ban organisations; on the basis of nothing more than a belief, but the process to lift the ban is ineffective. The annual internal review over the last 10 years has never resulted in any bans being lifted. All 11 applications over the last 10 years to have bans lifted have also been refused by the Home Secretary.
David Anderson QC has recommended the process for lifting the ban should be eased and time-limited requiring the Home Secretary to satisfy Parliament on why the ban should be retained and supporting this with specific evidence.
The report specifically states:
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By TEJASHDEEP SINGH
London (July 24, 2011): The ISYF was banned in the UK more than 10 years ago in March 2001 and this was widely acknowledged at that time by many UK politicians, including Ministers that this was a direct result of pressure from the Indian authorities.
After considerable working behind the scenes with politicians from across the political spectrum for more than two and a half years the Sikh Federation (UK) was set up in September 2003 and is now recognised as the leading lobbying Sikh organisation in the UK and Europe.
It is also well known that the Indian authorities have for many years been complaining to the UK Government the Sikh Federation (UK) is the successor body to the ISYF and should therefore be banned. The UK Government and all the main political parties to their credit are however on record as recognising the Sikh Federation (UK) is a legitimate organisation operating within the law and has every right to continue its activities, even though India may find these activities objectionable.
Earlier this week David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of the operation of the terrorist legislation presented a 100+ page report to the UK Parliament where he made specific reference to the ISYF and the pressure exerted by foreign governments. He has reached a number of conclusions and made recommendations in his report to Parliament. He has confirmed:
i) Banning of some organisations is heavily influenced by foreign policy concerns and this is being used to appease other governments. He has concluded there are significant obstacles of a political or foreign policy nature that makes the lifting of the ban on some organisations difficult as this would be unpalatable to foreign governments.
ii) It is too easy and convenient for the UK Government to ban organisations; on the basis of nothing more than a belief, but the process to lift the ban is ineffective. The annual internal review over the last 10 years has never resulted in any bans being lifted. All 11 applications over the last 10 years to have bans lifted have also been refused by the Home Secretary.
David Anderson QC has recommended the process for lifting the ban should be eased and time-limited requiring the Home Secretary to satisfy Parliament on why the ban should be retained and supporting this with specific evidence.
The report specifically states:
More...