Hundreds of Sikhs from all over Britain held a prayer vigil at the site of a racial attack in Edinburgh where the hair of a teenager from the community was forcibly cut by four white youths earlier this week.
At least nine coach-loads of people arrived from London and the Midlands on Sunday evening to pray at the Sikh Temple in Sheriff Brae, Leith. They, then, held a four-hour candlelit vigil in Pilrig Park, where the youngster was attacked on November 14, handing out flyers to passers-by.
The event was jointly organized by the London-based Sikh human rights group and the British Organisation of Sikh Students, with the backing of other groups. The organizers had also invited people of all faiths to attend the event.
The 15-year-old victim of the racist attack was on his way to see relatives last Tuesday when four white teenagers attacked him in Pilrig Park and cut his long hair with a knife. The incident has sent shock waves among Sikhs across the country, particularly because the religion does not allow male followers to trim their hair.
Paman Singh, a law student from Glasgow and a member of the BOSS said: "After paying our respects at the temple, we wanted to promote peace and tolerance in Edinburgh. There has never been anything on this scale seen in Scotland. People all over Britain are shocked by what happened."
In the history of Sikhism, people have died for their hair and it is a fundamental aspect of our religion set down by our Gurus. It is really important people know how important hair is to us, so that is why we held the vigil, Singh said.
"We have officers working extremely hard to track the culprits of this truly shocking crime. We have been in liaison with the Sikh community about the peaceful vigil held on Sunday," a police spokesman said.
The boy was walking towards the Balfour Place entrance of Pilrig Park when the gang began to hurl racist abuse at him. Later the youths set on him, punching and kicking him to the ground. After the attack, which took place at 7.30 pm, the teenagers fled across the park into Pilrig Street, and then towards Leith Walk.
The victim made his way home before his family called the police. They offered to call an ambulance but the boy declined any medical attention. However, the unprovoked assault has left the youngster shocked and upset. Police described it as 'an extremely distressing attack on a young member of our community.'
