Nazi salutes, Sikhs abused: Tensions grip UK after Henry Nowak’s murder

Although the victim’s father has warned against exploiting his family’s tragedy, far-right groups are rallying.

London, United Kingdom – Sikh groups moved quickly to condemn the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, despite not being responsible for the actions of his killer, 23-year-old Sikh man, Vickrum Digwa.

But the British far right, which increasingly exploits crime cases in order to rally, has weaponised the case.

On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station before marching towards Digwa’s family home in a diverse neighbourhood. Several far-right figures, including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, UKIP leader Nick Tenconi and Laurence Fox, addressed the crowd. Violence broke out, with missiles hurled at police officers and vehicles damaged. Some performed Nazi salutes while shouting “white power”.

“When the news [of Nowak’s murder] broke, there was shock and grief. How could such a senseless individual commit such a murderous attack and be from the Sikh community?” Jas Singh, principal adviser to the Sikh Federation UK, told Al Jazeera.

On Monday, Henry Nowak’s grieving father spoke outside the court that had just sentenced Digwa.

“This is not a case about Sikhism. This is not a case about racism. This is a case about murder,” said Mark Nowak.

On December 3, Henry Nowak had joined friends to celebrate the end of his first term at the University of Southampton. Before the night ended, Digwa, then 22, had stabbed him five times and lied to the police that the teenager had racially abused him.

Officers treated Nowak as a suspect rather than a victim, accepting Digwa’s account. As he lay handcuffed on the ground, Nowak repeatedly told officers he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe. Police body-camera footage showed his pleas going unanswered.

Mark Nowak expressed his anger at police failures and warned against his son’s death being used to create “further division, hatred or tension”.

Singh, of the Sikh Federation, criticised politicians from the far-right Reform UK and Restore Britain parties for drawing attention to Digwa’s religion and his kirpan, a ceremonial sword or dagger that is one of the five articles of faith for practising Sikhs, arguing that this had fuelled misconceptions about Sikhism. The court heard the murder weapon was not a kirpan but a separate Persian-style dagger that Digwa chose to carry.

A judge told Southampton Crown Court that Digwa brought “shame” on his religion and had stirred up racial tension.

Singh, who has relatives in Southampton, sa