Sikhs passing through Poland: Expect harassment from Border Guards: Appeal Court outcome

Feb. 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Warsaw 15 February 2013

Sikhs passing through Poland can still expect harassment at the hands of Border Guards: Appeal Court Judges Rule.

In a precedent setting Court Case brought by Shaminder Puri in September 2010 against the Polish Border Guard, the Appeal Court has upheld the lower court’s ruling.

The Appeal Court Judges agreed and reinforced the conclusion that Sikh Human Rights have been infringed. However they state that this is legal.

The Helsinki Foundation and the Lawyers acting in the Case against the Border Guard stated that Mr Puri had been targeted and identified by the Border Guard. He was stopped on ten occasions, after his attempts at dialogue with them failed.

The written script of the ruling of the appeal court will be analysed by the Helsinki Foundation and by the legal team.

A decision of taking the Case further to the Polish Supreme Court or to the European Court for Human Rights will be made within two months.

Mr Puri calls upon all Sikhs and all Sikh organisations to unite and come together. He states, “This is an assault upon Sikh sensibilities – in well governed Countries of the EU such a disregard by Judges of the declared respect for Human Rights is preposterous”.

The Polish Border Guard is an agency under the Polish Ministry of the Interior, which also regulates the Sikh Gurudwara in Warsaw. Recent press reports have shown that the Border Guard has also violated the human rights of asylum seekers who are in Poland. The Helsinki Foundation has condemned such behaviour.