Elderly Amritdhari Sikh’s Ordeal in Abu Dhabi Raises Serious Human Rights Concerns

Dalvinder Singh, an elderly Amritdhari Sikh from Kaithal, Haryana, never imagined that his dream tour to Abu Dhabi would end in trauma, humiliation, and a painful separation from his dignity. What began as a religious and cultural exploration turned into a 20-day nightmare that left deep scars on both him and his family.

According to his son, Manpreet Singh, who resides in New Delhi, the 62-year-old travelled to Abu Dhabi on April 21, 2025, as part of a group tour. During a visit to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple, the Abu Dhabi police reportedly stopped Dalvinder Singh after becoming suspicious about his kirpan—a sacred article of faith for baptized Sikhs. Despite repeated attempts by the tour guide and temple management to explain the religious significance of the kirpan, the authorities remained unconvinced.

Dalvinder Singh was taken into custody and, according to Manpreet, accused of arguing with the police—despite not understanding Arabic or English. What followed was a stretch of unimaginable hardship. “My father was kept in a cell under inhumane conditions. His turban, kanga, and kada were forcibly removed. He wasn’t allowed to change clothes and faced constant mental harassment,” Manpreet shared with deep anguish.

In the final days of his detention, Dalvinder was reportedly transferred to Vathva jail, where he was forced to share space with smokers. Being a strict vegetarian, he was allegedly served meat. His faith, identity, and dietary restrictions were blatantly disregarded. “When he was finally released, they deported him without his turban. He returned to India bareheaded, a sight that brought tears to our eyes,” Manpreet recalled.

Even locating him in custody became an ordeal for the family. When Manpreet flew to Abu Dhabi to find his father, he was met with resistance from the local authorities who refused to disclose Dalvinder’s whereabouts. Only after the intervention of the Indian embassy did the Baniyas jail authorities acknowledge his arrest. Yet, despite court orders for his release, Dalvinder’s deportation was delayed by two more agonizing weeks.

“He’s deeply shaken and now avoids stepping outside. He hardly speaks. What was supposed to be a simple vacation has turned into a painful chapter for our family,” said Manpreet.

He has now appealed to the Indian government and the global Sikh community to push for official recognition of Sikh religious symbols in the UAE to prevent such traumatic experiences for other devotees in the future.