A group of 11 Sikh MPs have issued a joint statement distancing themselves from Sikh links to the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death in Southampton by Sikh man Vickrum Singh Digwa.The intervention comes as public anger over the case grows, sparking debate around UK knife laws and legal exemptions that allow Sikhs to carry ceremonial blades for religious reasons.The statement was signed by several prominent Sikh MPs, including Labor MP Jas Athwal, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sikhs in Britain, and Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill and Tan Dhesi.MPs reiterated their position, concluding: “This is not about Sikhism. This is about a man carrying an assault weapon and committing brutal murder.”
“This case has nothing to do with Sikhism”
In a statement, lawmakers called Nowak’s killing a “horrible and senseless crime” and expressed condolences to his family.“As Sikh MPs, we believe it is important to get the facts straight,” the statement said. “This case had nothing to do with Sikhism and the weapon used was not a chuck. It was an assault weapon, as the court found. No religious protections or justification were applied and the offenders were correctly convicted and sentenced.”MPs added that knife crime continues to devastate families and communities across the UK and stressed that the case should not be used to shame entire faith communities.
Weapons used were ‘offensive weapons’, not Kirpan: MP
Digwa, 23, was convicted of Nowak’s murder in December 2025 and this week was sentenced to life in prison. The court proceedings heard that Digwa stabbed the Southampton University student with a 21cm long Pesh Kabz – an Indo-Persian dagger historically designed to pierce armor. He also carried a kirpan – a small ceremonial blade traditionally carried by observant Sikh men.Digwa claimed he owned the weapons for religious reasons related to his Sikh faith. However, MPs said the blade used in the attack was not a kpan knife and that religious exemptions did not apply in the case.
Debate over religious blade immunity
Under UK law, it is illegal to carry most knives in public without a valid reason. The law provides limited exemptions for religious purposes, including for Sikhs to carry chucks.The case sparked debate between Sikh groups and prosecutors over the characteristics of the weapons during the trial.The Sikh Federation argued the murder weapon was not a religious blade and accused authorities of contributing to the “demonization” of the Sikh community. However, the Crown Prosecution Service insisted the judge agreed with its assessment that Digueva was armed with a knife.
Angry police response after stabbing
Public outrage also focused on the immediate aftermath of the attack. Body camera footage shown during the proceedings shows Nowak lying on the ground after being stabbed while Digueva allegedly claimed he was racially abused and acted in self-defense.Nowak remained handcuffed when police arrived, even though he repeatedly told police he had been stabbed and was having trouble breathing. The teenager later died from his injuries.The video sparked criticism of the police response and sparked protests in Southampton, some of which descended into chaos.
