SINGEN, GERMANY — In a deeply troubling incident that has sent shockwaves through the Sikh diaspora, a family in Singen, Germany, was reportedly barred from performing their mother’s final rites at their local Gurdwara. The denial, attributed to internal disputes with the Gurdwara committee, has prompted outrage and a formal appeal to the highest temporal authority of the Sikh faith.
Brothers Daljit Singh and Paramjit Singh were allegedly denied permission by the Gurdwara Singh Sabha committee to hold the Bhog and Antim Ardas ceremonies for their late mother. According to community members, the decision was not based on religious protocol but on long-standing personal grievances held by the committee.
Community members, including local resident Balwinder Singh, have strongly condemned the committee’s actions as a direct violation of the Sikh Rehat Maryada, the Sikh code of conduct. A letter submitted by local Sikhs to the authorities accused the committee of abusing its power and betraying the core principles of the faith, which hold that the Guru Ghar (Guru’s house) is an open sanctuary for all.
Despite appeals from the local Sangat, Gurdwara President Davinder Singh reportedly upheld the decision. As a result, the grieving family was forced to travel over 150 kilometers to a neighboring Gurdwara to find a Granthi (Sikh priest) to perform the sacred final rites.
This incident has ignited a crucial conversation about the governance of Gurdwaras and the potential for internal disputes to infringe upon the fundamental rights of community members.
The family has now formally approached Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal authority in Sikhism, requesting a full inquiry into the matter. Their appeal seeks to not only hold the Gurdwara Singh Sabha committee accountable but also to establish clear, enforceable guidelines to ensure no Sikh is ever again denied access to a Gurdwara for essential religious services, especially in a time of mourning.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that the fight for religious freedom is not always against external forces, but can sometimes be a battle fought from within. The Sikh community is now looking to its leadership to reaffirm that the Guru’s doors are open to everyone, without exception.
