The British Sikh Federation, a collective of Sikh organizations and communities across the United Kingdom, expressed its ‘deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life’ of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old British university student who was stabbed by a Sikh man and later died from his injuries last December.
‘This incident, as reported, does not align with the Sikh faith, the Sikh community, or the principles it stands for,’ the statement issued on 22 May reads, adding that ‘Sikh teachings are founded on compassion, justice, humility, responsibility, and service to humanity’.
‘We respectfully urge everyone to allow the judicial process to proceed fairly and without prejudice, and to refrain from drawing broad assumptions or judgments about the Sikh faith or Sikh religious practices based on an individual case.’
Concluding the statement, the Sikh Federation said that the Sikh community ‘remains peaceful, well-integrated, and a deeply valued part of British society’, while calling on members to remain united, stay true to core values, and continue rejecting any form of division or negativity. ‘Together, we move forward,’ the statement concluded.
Henry Nowak’s tragic death has sparked outrage across right-wing social media since last week because of the absurdity of the circumstances surrounding the case. According to details presented during the ongoing murder trial at Southampton Crown Court, Nowak—a first-year accountancy and finance student—was stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa during a violent altercation in Southampton’s Portswood district on 3 December 2025. Prosecutors stated that Digwa used an eight-inch Sikh ceremonial knife, known as a kirpan or shastar.
After being stabbed, Nowak reportedly attempted to flee while bleeding heavily, but prosecutors said Digwa ‘aggressively pursued’ him through the street until police officers arrived. According to the prosecution, officers then restrained and handcuffed the visibly injured teenager after the suspect claimed he had been racially abused. Shortly afterwards, Nowak collapsed and later died at the scene.
Digwa denies murder and claims self-defence. Prosecutors have also accused his mother, Kiran Kaur, of removing the knife from the scene following the stabbing, an allegation she denies.
British police, mainstream media outlets, and politicians quickly came under criticism, with many accusing authorities of ‘two-tier policing’ and arguing that the case was largely ignored by mainstream politicians and journalists. Commentators compared the relatively muted reaction to the global outrage following George Floyd’s death, arguing that different ethnic or political circumstances would likely have triggered significantly greater public attention and unrest.
‘Similar condolence statements are rarely issued by British Muslim organizations following comparable incidents’
From that perspective, many considered it both ironic and respectable that the Sikh Federation issued a public statement regarding Nowak’s death before either Hampshire Police or politicians linked to Labour or the Greens. The statement was received positively in right-wing circles, where some also pointed out that similar condolence statements are rarely issued by British Muslim organizations following comparable incidents.
Henry Nowak’s death has also attracted international attention, with many comparing his case to that of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was stabbed to death in North Carolina in August 2025 by a 35-year-old career criminal who was recently declared—once again—incompetent to stand trial by medical experts. US billionaire Elon Musk, who was among the first prominent figures to speak publicly about Zarutska’s case amid media silence similar to that surrounding Nowak’s death, has recently offered to fund a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the British teenager’s death.
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