Apology
We can completely understand the frustrations that are held by the community. We can only begin to imagine the pain and hurt that the ordeal following the incident may have caused all those involved. We apologise unreservedly for our failure in publishing our report in the timeframe set out in our terms of reference. The investigation is ongoing and is still focused on reviewing how institutions and organisations responded to the alleged sexual abuse at a Derby Gurdwara (please see our terms of references).
Reason
The Management Committee/Trustees of Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara, Derby, are key in this investigation. On the day of the announcement of the investigation (2nd July 2021), a member of the Gurdwara management committee contacted us and confirmed their willingness to participate. After conducting some background research into this case, we offered a face-to-face meeting to be scheduled for the first week of September on the 17th August 2021.
Since then, unfortunately, due to several personal reasons, including the illness of some key person(s) in the Gurdwara Management Committee, there was a lapse of communication.
On the 13th October 2021, we sent a detailed written query with over 40 specific questions to the Gurdwara Management Committee and Trustees. A deadline was set for Monday 25th October.
The Gurdwara Management was unable to maintain this deadline, and we have further offered an extended deadline of 12th November 2021.
A member of the Gurdwara Management Committee has now assured us of their continued support for the investigation.
The response and participation of this Gurdwara Sahib is essential to make any material findings. The investigation is not statutory, and we have no power to enforce ‘deadlines’. We hope to receive a response soon, and we will progress with the next stages of investigation before publishing our final report. In any circumstance, our report will be published by the 6th December 2021.
Request
We are aware of several posts on social media by different sources that have triggered heightened emotions in our community. The Gurdwara Management Committee has also issued a statement. Apart from this, private submissions to the investigation continue to be monitored. Our investigation will review all ‘new’ and ‘relevant’ material.
We urge all organisations/individuals to consider the long-term impact of everything brought and consequently left in the public domain. We are also aware of several rumours and misinformation spread about this investigation. We cannot afford for such trivial matters to distract the focus of this investigation and investigators:
We are not ‘covering up’, nor are we interested in ‘shaming’. The Gurdwara is the foundational institution of Sikhi. Our intention remains to build hope for victims and restore trust in Sikh Faith institutions.
