As the situation unfolded, the Indian government, through its diplomatic channels, continued to seek an amicable solution within the framework of Qatari laws
Qatar authorities returned two seized copies of the Guru Granth Sahib to the Indian Embassy in Doha on August 28.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed receiving Sikh faith’s sacred books known as Saroops.
Qatari officials had consficated the books from an Indian resident allegedly running a Sikh faith group without Qatar Government approval.
Religion practices other than Islam require approvals from the Ministry of Culture and Interior Ministry of Qatar.
The ‘Saroops’ were initially seized due to allegations that an Indian national was operating a religious establishment without the necessary approvals from the Qatari government. Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the MEA, expressed gratitude to the Qatari government for returning the holy texts and reiterated the importance of adhering to local laws. In a statement on X, Jaiswal said, “Qatar authorities have today handed over to our Embassy in Doha Sri Guru Granth Sahib (two Saroops) taken from an Indian national in a case related to running a religious establishment without approvals. We thank the Government of Qatar for the same.”
Jaiswal also emphasized the need for Indian citizens residing in Qatar or any other foreign country to strictly comply with local laws and regulations. “We appeal to all Indian citizens residing in Qatar or other countries to scrupulously follow local laws and regulations in all matters,” he added.
The successful return of the ‘Saroops’ signifies a positive step towards addressing the religious concerns of the Sikh community in Qatar while also underscoring the importance of respecting the legal framework of host countries
This incident came to light earlier when the Indian Embassy in Doha reported the confiscation of the ‘Saroops’ on August 23. The Embassy was actively involved in discussions with the Qatari authorities to resolve the issue and maintain open communication with the Sikh community in Doha.
The Sikh community had voiced its concerns over the seizure, emphasizing the sacredness of the Guru Granth Sahib, which is considered a living Guru by Sikhs. Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also intervened, urging External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to advocate for the establishment of Gurdwaras in Qatar to enable Sikhs to freely practice their religion. In her appeal, Badal stressed the emotional distress experienced by the Sikh community over the treatment of the ‘Saroops’ as case property.
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