The Qatari authorities have returned two copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, to the Indian Embassy in Doha. The scriptures were confiscated from an Indian national involved in running a religious establishment without the necessary approvals from the Qatari government.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India expressed gratitude to the Government of Qatar for returning the sacred texts.
“Qatar authorities have today handed over to our Embassy in Doha Sri Guru Granth Sahib (two Saroops) taken from an Indian national in a case related to running a religious establishment without approvals. We thank the Government of Qatar for the same,” stated the MEA on August 28, 2024.
The incident had sparked considerable concern among the Sikh community globally, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh leaders urging the Indian government for intervention.
The SGPC had previously thanked the MEA for their efforts in securing the return of one of the copies and expressed hope for the swift return of the second.
The Indian government promptly discussed the matter with Qatari authorities, emphasizing its religious sensitivity. The Indian Embassy in Doha played a crucial role in negotiations, ensuring that the Sikh community was kept informed of the developments.