Independent MP Adnan Hussain has backed Southampton’s Sikh community after reports of growing fear and intimidation following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, saying no group should be blamed for the actions of an individual.In a post on X, the Blackburn MP said Sikh residents should not face harassment over a crime committed by one person.“This is terrible,” Hussein wrote. “No society should live in fear like this, and no society should be held responsible for crimes committed by any individual.”“Solidarity with the Sikh community. The government must ensure that their safety is prioritized and the necessary reassurance is provided to them.”
His comments come after Sikh community leaders in Southampton reported an increase in racist abuse and hostility following the conviction of 23-year-old Vikram Singh Dhigwa for Nowak’s murder.Degoa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing a university student in December 2025 with a 21cm-long kirpan, a ceremonial blade that some Sikhs carry as an article of faith. During the investigation, Degoa falsely claimed that he had been subjected to racist abuse, an allegation that was rejected by the court.Representatives of Southampton’s Sikh community told The Times that many residents now feel unsafe in public spaces and are avoiding routine activities, including visiting the local gurdwara.
A spokesman for the Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar said some members had faced racist abuse in workplaces, supermarkets and care facilities, and a community memorial event had been canceled due to safety concerns.“We feel victimized and people are afraid to come out of their homes,” the spokesman said, adding that public discussion surrounding the case unfairly linked the broader Sikh community to the actions of one individual.Community leaders also responded to criticism of the kirpan, arguing that the weapon used in the attack should not define a religious article that Sikhs around the world adhere to.Community representatives also called for calm and urged residents not to direct anger at the broader Sikh population, stressing that the murder was the act of an individual and not a reflection of an entire religious community.
