What Is Brexit?
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Brexit is the combination of "British" and "Exit." It refers to the unanimous decision made in a 2016 referendum to leave the European Union. This decision was made keeping different political factors in mind. However, apart from the English and Scottish population, it was greatly emphasized during this historical that other communities should be considered too. The Sikh community was and will be greatly affected by this decision. Knowing that, a few officials began raising their voices in this matter. One of the most prominent is the Sikh scholar, faith consultant, and chaplain, Bhai Manvir Singh.
The decision of the UK to leave the European Union (EU) was taken on June 23rd, 2016, but it was officially put in place at 11 pm on January 31st, 2020. After the official execution, some laws maintained a peaceful cohabitation. Many deals were made to ensure that the UK and EU would work and trade together peacefully, in other words, a functional divorce. Some highlighted laws of the Brexit included :
- The freedom to work and live between the UK and EU came to an end with Brexit. UK nationals will now need a visa to stay in the EU for more than a 90 out of 180 day period.
- Northern Ireland would continue to follow many of the EU's previous laws. However, new checks and laws would be enforced on goods entering Northern Ireland from any UK territory.
- The UK was now able to set its own trade policies and can individually negotiate deals with other nations.
Many good things are expected to come with Brexit that are being shown constant limelight. However, the things that Bhai Manvir Singh is trying to promote are the effects of this national divorce on the minorities such a the Sikh Community, which not bein shown any attention.
Some insight into the life of the religious scholar
Originating from Oxfordshire, Bhai Manvir Singh was born in 1985. By profession, he is a chaplain while being carrying out extreme efforts to educate young Sikh minds, pursue religious research, and be a faith-related beacon for the global Sikh community. Manvir Singh decided to choose a more humanitarian and religion-oriented education to gain more in-depth knowledge about his faith's history. He secured his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Philosophy from the Associateship of King's College, after which he secured his MPhil in Sikh studies. In the past, he has been an active member of the original Sikh Council UK and Punjabis in Britain All-Parliamentary Group. Currently, he is pursuing an MPA in Faith Leadership. His educational experience gave Manvir extensive insight into Sikh history, philosophy and anthropology. In the run-up to Brexit, he studied the social challenges facing the Sikh community and started his efforts to write about these various articles and be vocal on various forums, including Sikh media outlets.
Bhai Manvir Singh wrote that Brexit would make the existence of the Sikh community more difficult in Continental Europe. The Sikh community is less established and connected in political systems in the EU than they are in the UK. The community of mainland Europe depended on the community of the UK to represent them in the European Parliament via channels like the Sikh Council, Sikh Federation UK, etc. Now unable to seek help from their counterparts in the UK, the European community has lost much political influence in accordance with Bhai Manvir Singh's study.
Manvir Singh UK believes that the Sikh community in the UK have more religious rights, freedoms, and safety than in any other European country. As stated by Bhai Manvir Singh UK, "In the UK, we don't need to worry about wearing the Kirpan (a religious article that shaped in the form of a small blade) or the Dastaar (turban). It would be unbelievable to think that a child in the UK would be barred from a school or university for wearing a Dastaar or not having a front-line job like working in a bank, school, civil service, etc. of their visible Sikh identity. The reason for this is that Sikhs in the UK have already faced challenges to safeguard their rights in the 1970s and 80s.
However, countries like France currently have outright bans on wearing any religious headgear in government schools or public service jobs. Countries like Denmark do not allow Sikhs to wear the Kirpan (wearing it underneath your clothes is even illegal!). Countries like Belgium and Germany have certain schools that don't allow children to wear a Dastaar or even cover their heads. Most mainland European countries would not allow Sikhs to wear a Dastaar openly or visibly in government jobs."
Manvir Singh believes that this national event should not negatively affect its inhabitants. He wants to promote the difficulties the Sikh community of European states has to face regarding a basic need of practising their beliefs. Manvir Singh UK believes that the EU should pay attention to the alarming situation of its communities and try to make immediate strides to improve their standard of living in the wake of the political divorce between the EU and the UK.
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