Eleven Sikh MPs State Henry Nowak Murder Not Linked to Religious Practice
A collective of eleven Sikh Members of Parliament has explicitly stated that the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak was “not about” their religion, Sikhism. Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton last December by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely asserted he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence.
Digwa, subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment, used a blade he contended he carried for religious purposes, linking it to his Sikh faith. However, the Sikh MPs’ statement underscored that the killing centred on “a man carrying an offensive weapon and committing a brutal murder,” rather than Sikh religious tenets.
UK law generally prohibits carrying most knives in public without valid justification, though Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides for religious exemptions. The sentencing judge noted Digwa possessed a sheathed knife and a larger dagger, which he associated with his membership of the Nihang order of Sikhs.
The Sikh Federation has disputed that the weapon used by Digwa was a kirpan, a religious knife, criticising the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for failing to clarify this during the trial and alleging the Sikh community has been “demonised.” The CPS, however, maintained that Digwa chose to carry two ceremonial knives, with the judge’s findings affirming the weapon’s identification as a kirpan.
Nowak's death has intensified public discourse on knife legislation in the UK, prompting criticism from figures such as Elon Musk regarding existing laws. The incident has also precipitated violent unrest following protests in Southampton.
The Sikh MPs’ statement described Nowak’s murder as a “horrific and senseless crime,” extending their condolences to his family. They affirmed: “This case was not about Sikhism, and the weapon used was not a kirpan. As the court found, it was an offensive weapon. No religious protection or justification applied, and the offender was rightly convicted and sentenced.”
