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Good morning. All over the world Sikhs have just been marking the martyrdom of the 5th Guru, Guru Arjan Dev by visiting Gurdwaras and drinking Chabeel, a sweet drink made up of rose-water syrup, milk and ice. The Guru was martyred in 1606 for upholding his beliefs in the face of oppression.

It is a sobering thought that we don’t have to look far in the news to see how defending and protecting religious freedoms is still as relevant today as it was in the 17th century. In Yemen, for example, it’s been reported that Houthi rebels have recently arrested members of the minority Bahai faith. In the United States, the State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report published this month highlighted that religious freedoms are under threat in China, Myanmar, India, Pakistan and Nigeria, and also here in Europe due to the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia. In other places, it also highlights how the persecution and torture of the non-religious and those who wish to freely join another religion through conversion continues.

Guru Arjan Dev’s teachings on religious pluralism and diversity brought him into conflict with the Mughal ruler, Emperor Jehangir and his administration, and eventually led to his torture and death because he refused to alter verses in the first Sikh holy scripture, the Adi Granth. His martyrdom represents the ultimate sacrifice for freedom of belief.

The Sikh Gurus taught that each religion is divinely inspired because each represents manifestation of the one Truth. When compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Arjan Dev incorporated compositions not just of the Sikh Gurus but also of medieval saints and mystics belonging to diverse social, religious and cultural traditions. As one of the Saint-poets, Bhagat Kabir, wrote:

Do not say that the Vedas, the Bible, and the Koran are false. Those who do not contemplate them are false.

We live in a much more interconnected world, but religious intolerance and violations of freedom of religion or belief persists and in some cases are getting worse, but not in every case. The International Religious Freedom Report acknowledged in some parts of the world, like Brazil and Central African Republic diversity of faith is being protected.

Guru Arjun Dev's martyrdom serves as a reminder that we should respect the right of all individuals to freely express their beliefs without fear of reprisal or violence, as he said ‘do not harbour hatred against anyone because in each and every heart, God is contained,’ For me these words resonate so strongly today, and I still believe we can look forward to the future with optimism because things can change.

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