For all those who have reached out looking to help, including with offers of financial donations for these families in Afghanistan, our best current advice is that you hold on donating for now. The first and only order of business right now is getting these families out of the country; once there is clarity on a destination, there will be clarity on fundraising needs and where those funds should be directed. We will continue to provide updates on these efforts as they develop.
As a reminder, the safety of Afghanistan’s Sikhs and Hindus was dire well before the collapse of the government. The community, which once numbered in the tens of thousands, has been devastated by years of emigration and death, driven by both systemic discrimination and a uptick in extremist violence exemplified by
a brutal attack on a Kabul gurdwara in March of last year. When ISIS-affiliated fighters threatened the remaining Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan with genocide if they did not leave the country, the Sikh Coalition, our partners, and many sangat members began to increase our efforts on this issue: We mobilized organizational partners to
send a letter to key congressional leaders,
published a firsthand account from an Afghan Sikh, and worked with more than 1,000 sangat members to push 20 U.S. Senators and 26 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to
contact the State Department about this issue.
While our hearts break for the tens of thousands of Afghans from all faith backgrounds who are now in harm’s way, we continue to advocate for this small community so that they are not left behind or forgotten by the authorities and are able to make it to safety before it is too late. And finally, as we continue to work on this issue, we also
urge vigilance for Sikh Americans here at home given the historic false conflation between the Taliban and minority communities in our country.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.