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| Submitted Scenes from a recent worship service at the Sikh Religious Society in Silvis. Leaders recently met with Silvis Police Chief Mark VanKlaveren to discuss enhanced security plans. |
Saturday, January 16, 2016: SILVIS -- To preserve its peace, local Sikhs have obtained security advice from police.
Nothing bad has happened at their temple at 1605 14th St., according to Sikh Religious Society committee member Dalbir Singh.
"And our neighbors are great," director Gurlabh Singh said. "They are friendly."
Yet, amid the brutal August slaying in Peoria of Sikh businessman Satwinder Singh Bhola, associated with the Best Western Hotel in Annawan, and a 2012 tragedy at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Milwaukee -- the next closest Sikh house of worship -- local Sikhs said they believed it was prudent to bolster security.
"We wanted to do something before anything does happen," Dalbir Singh said. Sikhs, in general, are often misidentified and misunderstood, he said.
Pronounced more like "sicks" than "seeks," Sikhs comprise the world's fifth largest religion, with 30 million Sikhs worldwide, including a million in the U.S.
Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith, according to materials from the local society. Sikhism is among the youngest of world religions, dating back to 1469 from India.
In mid-December, Silvis Police Chief Mark VanKlaveren visited with local Sikh leaders to "give information about protecting their house of worship." He said he was familiar with Sikhism from his time in the U.S. Navy, including trips to Arab countries.
Local leaders were "mostly concerned about national unfavorable public perceptions," he said.
Gurlabh Singh said he wants the U.S. government to "remember we are all citizens, but who are suffering from being misidentifed.
"We're a peaceful religion," he said.
According to submitted material, Sikhism rejects idolatry, the caste system, ritualism and asceticism. It recognizes the equality between both genders and all religions, prohibits the intake of any intoxicants and encourages an honest, truthful living."
Male members of the Sikh religion use the name Singh -- meaning "lion" -- as their middle or last name. Females use the name Kaur, which means "princess."
When visiting Sikh's places of worship, people must remove their shoes and cover their heads. About 99 percent of people in the U.S. wearing turbans are Sikh Americans, whose faith originated from India.
Sunday services are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include a free vegetarian meal. Free food is available around the clock for anyone. About 35 families attend the temple, coming from as far away as Dubuque, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Fulton, Galesburg and Peoria.
Membership dropped significantly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Dalbir Singh said, with the temple losing about 40 people.
Because the temple is in a quiet, secluded area, Chief VanKlaveren said he encouraged its leaders to install more security cameras, including one focused on the ravine near it.
Leaders listened to his advice and installed more cameras. Other precautions include stationing two people at the front door to greet visitors, creating an escape plan and locating a safe room in case of an emergency.
Chief VanKlaveren said he also offered additional security ideas, information, phone numbers and social media addresses to report trouble.
People wanting to know more about Sikhism can call Bains Saranjit Singh, editor-in-chief of The Times of Punjab, at 425-985-6239
425-985-6239 FREE FREE, to arrange for a guest speaker.