The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has expressed grave concern over the rising number of hate crimes targeting Sikhs in the United States, warning that fear and insecurity are intensifying as the anniversary of September 11 approaches.
NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal, in a letter sent to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that recent incidents clearly demonstrate the dangers faced by the Sikh community. On August 4, 2025, in North Hollywood, California, 70-year-old Sikh elder Harpal Singh was viciously beaten with a golf club near his gurdwara, leaving him in critical condition with severe head injuries. In a separate case earlier this year, Bhushan Athale of Texas was sentenced to prison for issuing violent, hate-laced threats against a Sikh nonprofit, including threats to forcibly cut the hair of Sikh employees—an act that strikes at the heart of Sikh religious identity.
Chahal further noted that the FBI’s latest hate crime statistics show Sikhs remain the third most targeted religious group in the U.S., with 153 incidents reported in 2024 alone. Despite a slight decrease in overall hate crime numbers, Sikhs continue to face disproportionate levels of hostility. “These are not isolated cases,” Chahal emphasised. “They reflect a troubling pattern of intolerance, ignorance, and violence against Sikhs that cannot be ignored.”
With the 9/11 anniversary approaching, NAPA warns that the risk is especially high. “This is the time when misdirected anger often rises, and Sikhs with turbans and beards become soft targets due to mistaken identity,” Chahal said. “The community is fearful and feels vulnerable during this period, and the government must take visible steps to reassure us.”
NAPA has urged the U.S. government to act decisively by condemning these attacks, strengthening security around gurdwaras and community centers, enforcing strict penalties for hate crimes, and supporting legislation like the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act (IRPHA). The association also stressed the need for educational initiatives to combat ignorance and foster greater understanding of Sikh identity among the American public.
“The Sikh community has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in times of need,” Chahal concluded. “Today, as we approach another 9/11 anniversary, it is time for the government to stand with Sikhs and ensure that our families, places of worship, and community members are safe from hate and violence.”