The murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak was "not about Sikhism", a group of 11 Sikh MPs has declared, as they sought to distance their faith from the brutal stabbing that sparked violent disorder in Southampton.
Nowak was fatally stabbed in the city in December 2025 by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence. Digwa used a blade he said was carried for religious reasons linked to his Sikh faith. He has been jailed for life.
“11 Sikh MPs say Henry Nowak's murder was not about Sikhism but a brutal crime”
The judge who sentenced Digwa noted he carried a knife in a sheath, as well as a second, larger dagger linked to his tradition as a member of the Nihang order of Sikhs. The Sikh Federation said the blade used was not a religious knife – a kirpan – and condemned the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for not making this clear during the trial, telling the BBC the community had been "demonised".
The CPS, however, said Digwa chose to carry two ceremonial knives and that the judge's finding of fact made clear he agreed with its assessment that the weapon used was a kirpan.
Under UK law, it is illegal to carry most knives in public without a good reason, but the law provides exemptions for religious reasons as potential lawful defences under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
The killing has reignited the debate about knife laws. Following Digwa's conviction, prominent right-wing figures including billionaire Elon Musk criticised current UK law around carrying the knife.
Violent disorder followed protests over the murder in Southampton.
In their statement, the 11 Sikh MPs said Nowak's murder was a "horrific and senseless crime" and their "thoughts remain with his family and loved ones". They insisted: "This case was not about Sikhism, and the weapon used was not a kirpan. As the court found, it was an offensive weapon. No religious protection or justification applied, and the offender was rightly convicted and sentenced."