12 June 2026 | Watford, UK [Enoch Kanagaraj with tedNEWS]
Seventh-day Adventist, Sikh and civic leaders joined community members at Watford Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara on 12 June to reject hate and intolerance and affirm support for religious freedom, mutual respect and community unity across Hertfordshire, UK.
Organised by the Gurdwara and One Vision Charity, the gathering brought together Sikh leader Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu OBE, Pastor Ian Sweeney, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director for the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dame Helen Hyde, Pastor Bernie Holford, Akhtar Zaman, Councillor Asif Khan, Councillor Sohail Bashir, Councillor Steve Watson, vice-chair of Hertfordshire County Council, and Chief Superintendent Matt Phillips of Hertfordshire Constabulary.
Speakers emphasised the importance of protecting religious freedom, supporting vulnerable communities and working together across faith and cultural boundaries.
Sweeney told attendees that religious liberty flourishes when communities defend one another’s rights and dignity. He said genuine freedom of religion includes supporting the freedom of others to practise and express their beliefs without fear or discrimination.
The event also recognised the Sikh community’s long-standing commitment to serving others, particularly through local welfare initiatives and public service. Speakers referenced the Sikh principle of Seva, or selfless service, noting the role Sikh Gurdwaras played during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing food, practical assistance and support to vulnerable people.
Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DL, founder and chief executive of One Vision Charity, said, “When faith communities, public services and civic leaders work together, we can build stronger communities rooted in trust, respect and shared purpose.”
Throughout the programme, participants reiterated a shared message that hatred directed towards any community affects society as a whole and that communities are strongest when they stand together.
Harjit Singh, Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, and other community leaders concluded the event by encouraging continued cooperation, understanding and friendship between faith groups and local communities.
For Seventh-day Adventists, support for religious freedom has long been part of the Church’s public witness. The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s official statement on religious freedom says that Adventists “champion freedom of conscience and religion as a fundamental human right” and “cooperate and network with others to defend the religious liberty of all people, including those with whom we may disagree.”
[Photos: Teereth Kaur]
