Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

American Sikhs Support Trump's Religious Freedom Order

IANS, 08 May, 2017 12:40 PM
    US President Donald Trump's executive order on religious liberty reflects his commitment to protecting religious freedom of all Americans, a prominent member of the Sikh American community in the US has said.
     
    Founder of 'Sikh Americans for Trump', Jasdip Singh alleged that for political reasons "certain vested sections" of the society and community members are blaming the President for the rise in hate crimes in the US.
     
    "Protecting religious freedom was one of the centerpieces of President Trump's campaign. He strongly believes this is a first-amendment right, and that no one should be punished— especially by the federal government —  for standing up for their moral beliefs and not violating their conscience,” Singh said.
     
    President Trump on Thursday signed the order on religious freedom, which directs the Treasury Department to not take "adverse action" over churches or religious organisations for political speech.
     
     
    Singh, who was the only Sikh American invited to attend Trump's address on the National Day of Prayer in the Rose Garden of the White House said the US President is against hate crime and is "determined to unite the divided country”.
     
    Singh said religious freedom is an important issue for the majority of Americans. "It's not the government's job to censor what is acceptable or unacceptable speech. Under the first amendment,  individuals do have a right to speech that the listener disagrees with and to speech that is offensive and hateful,” Singh said.
     
    Trump promised during the campaign to dismantle the Johnson Amendment, which bans tax-exempt organisations like churches from political speech and activities.
     
    His executive order relaxes IRS enforcement of that ban.
     
    The executive order, called "Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty," also gives "regulatory relief" to companies that object to an Obamacare mandate for contraception in health care. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian-American Woman Honoured With Flag Flown Over US Capitol

    Indian-American Woman Honoured With Flag Flown Over US Capitol
    A US lawmaker has honoured an Indian-American woman posthumously by hoisting the American flag over the Capitol in her honour.

    Indian-American Woman Honoured With Flag Flown Over US Capitol

    Bodies Of Two Indians Lying In Saudi For Weeks

    Jaswinder Singh (56), from Kapurthala district in Punjab, died on February 21. Ponnam Satyanarayana (48), from Jagtial district in Telangana, passed away on March 11. 

    Bodies Of Two Indians Lying In Saudi For Weeks

    China Bans Muslim Names Like 'Saddam', 'Jihad' For Newborns In Restive Xinjiang

    China Bans Muslim Names Like 'Saddam', 'Jihad' For Newborns In Restive Xinjiang
    On April 1, the authorities in Xinjiang had also imposed new rules banning "abnormal" beards or a full veil

    China Bans Muslim Names Like 'Saddam', 'Jihad' For Newborns In Restive Xinjiang

    New Video Of Militants In Kashmir Does Rounds On Social Media

    New Video Of Militants In Kashmir Does Rounds On Social Media
    A new video of at least 30 militants in army fatigues brandishing assault rifles at an unknown location in the Kashmir Valley is doing the rounds on social media.

    New Video Of Militants In Kashmir Does Rounds On Social Media

    Indian-American Doctors' Body Shocked Over Murthy's Sacking

    Indian-American Doctors' Body Shocked Over Murthy's Sacking
    A top body of Indian-American doctors has expressed shock and disappointment over the Trump administration's dismissal of physician Vivek Murthy as the US Surgeon General.

    Indian-American Doctors' Body Shocked Over Murthy's Sacking

    Canadian Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Export Fentanyl Into U.S.

    Canadian Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Export Fentanyl Into U.S.
    A Canadian man has pleaded guilty to attempting to export fentanyl products and other synthetic drugs from China into the United States.

    Canadian Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Export Fentanyl Into U.S.