Sikhism in Wales

The arrival of Sikhism in Wales is relatively recent. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census there were 4,048 Sikhs in the country representing 0.1% of the population.^[1][2]

History

Sikh Population History
in Wales

Year	Pop.	±%
2001	2,015	—
2011	2,962	+47.0%
2021	4,048	+36.7%
Source: Office for National Statistics [3][4]

Sikhs have faced some difficulties in Wales: in 2000, a popular Sikh was murdered in a racially motivated attack in Port Talbot.^[5] The issue of Sikhism in Wales again came to wider attention in 2008 when the only Sikh pupil at Aberdare Girls' School was banned from school for refusing to remove her kara^[6] though the High Court eventually ruled that the school had been wrong to exclude her.^[7]

The first purpose-built Sikh gurdwara was opened in Cardiff in 1989.^[8]

Notable Welsh Sikhs

• Banita Sandhu

See also

• Sikhism in England
• Sikhism in Scotland
• Religion in Wales

References

1. "Religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
2. "2011 Census: KS209EW Religion, local authorities in England and Wales". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
3. "KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
4. "KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
5. Wainwright, Martin (17 April 2000). "Sikh murder in Wales treated as race attack". The Guardian.
6. 'Bangle' girl begins ruling wait BBC News, 19 June 2008
7. 'Proud to be Welsh and a Sikh'. Schoolgirl wins court battle to wear religious bangle guardian.co.uk, 30 July 2008
8. "Multicultural Wales". BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2024.

External links

• Sikh Gurdwara Cardiff