WASHINGTON, October 9 2004
PTI

The Sikh Council On Religion and Education (SCORE) has expressed disappointment over the rejection of the hate crime Bill in the US Congress.

"Passing this legislation was an opportunity that was lost, to send a clear and strong message that America and its people will not tolerate any hate crime," National Chairman of SCORE, Rajwant Singh, said.

"America is a country where people with people cultural, social and religious beliefs are citizens. Hate and violence has no place in the American society based on democratic values," he said.

On October 7, the house of Republican negotiators rejected the Senate-approved proposal to strengthen the hate crime law of the nation. The initiative to strengthen and broaden the scope of the hate crime bill was seen as an important step towards protecting the victims of hate crime.

The hate crime bill called Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA) proposed to bring about changes in existing provisions to expand the protection to all victims of hate crime including gays and lesbians and financial support for state and local investigations and prosecutions of hate crimes.

Senators Edward M Kennedy and Gordan Smith co-sponsored this Bill.

The SCORE leader had joined 19 national religious leaders representing religious organisations from various faiths to send a letter to US house of representatives pressing upon them to pass a national legislation on hate crimes communicating that the inter-faith community supports the passage of the National Hate Crimes Legislation.

Many Sikhs and non-Sikhs were attacked in view of increasing level of hate crime and religious intolerance since 9/11, he pointed out.

There has been an increase in incidences of alleged hate crimes. In 2002, almost 7,500 alleged hate crimes were documented by the FBI. These crimes against institutions and individuals were because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, National origin, or disability. This legislation was viewed to help in the prosecution of hate crimes by removing unnecessary impediments in the prosecution procedures.

SCORE urged Sikhs to contact their members of Congress and continue to support the local law enforcement enhancement act until it takes the shape of law.