Washington, D.C., September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
UNITED SIKHS has extended its support to the bipartisan Right to Worship Act (H.R. 10052), legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Brad Knott (R-NC) to strengthen protections for people attending religious services.
The bill, introduced on August 6, would establish a 100-foot protection zone around houses of worship during religious services and prohibit knowingly disrupting or impeding people from attending services. The legislation also provides for civil fines and legal remedies, while expressly protecting peaceful expression under the First Amendment.
Speaking at a Capitol Hill press conference, Gurvinder Singh, International Humanitarian Aid Director of UNITED SIKHS, highlighted what he described as the legislation’s dual protection of the right to worship and the right to peaceful protest.
Singh said the issue was particularly significant for Sikh Americans, noting that many Sikhs who fled persecution following the 1984 Sikh genocide in India sought refuge in the United States, where the ability to dissent, protest and disagree is protected under constitutional rights.
He also recalled the 2012 attack at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, highlighting the need for clearly defined protections for worshippers.
“Sikh Americans should be able to enter gurdwaras without hindrance, as should my brothers and sisters entering churches, synagogues, and mosques. At the same time, those who choose to protest peacefully must also be protected. This Act ensures both freedoms are respected equally,” Singh said.
The Right to Worship Act seeks to establish a civil prohibition against conduct that knowingly and unreasonably hinders or deters people from entering a house of worship or threatens or intimidates them in a manner that prevents participation in a scheduled religious service. The legislation excludes peaceful expression that does not interfere with the ability to worship.
The bill also proposes civil fines ranging from $2,500 for an initial violation to as much as $10,000 for subsequent violations. It would allow affected individuals, the US Attorney General and state attorneys general to pursue legal action.
UNITED SIKHS is among more than 30 national religious and community organisations supporting the legislation. The coalition includes organisations representing Sikh, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian and other communities.
The legislation has bipartisan and bicameral backing, with Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introducing a companion measure in the Senate. The House bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee after its introduction.
Supporters of the legislation say it seeks to balance two First Amendment protections — freedom of religious exercise and freedom of speech — by protecting worshippers from intimidation while preserving the right to peaceful expression.
For Sikh communities, the proposed protections would apply to gurdwaras alongside other houses of worship, providing a common legal framework for people attending religious services.
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