The Federal Government has cancelled the visa of Khizar Hayat, a 21-year-old Pakistani national, after he pleaded guilty to desecrating the Gutka Sahib, a revered Sikh holy text, and posting videos of the act on TikTok.
The incident, which occurred on August 27 outside the Canning Vale Gurudwara in Perth, shocked the Sikh community and drew widespread condemnation.
It was alleged that Hayat recorded himself throwing the Gutka Sahib on the ground, stepping on it, tearing out its pages, flushing them down a toilet, and setting portions on fire.
Hayat later uploaded the videos to TikTok, where they went viral, sparking protests in Melbourne and outside the Armadale Magistrates Court during his case.
More than 50 members of the Sikh community had then gathered at the Armadale Magistrates Court to witness Khizar Hayat plead guilty to one count of intending to racially harass. Although the community then welcomed his guilty plea, there was widespread concern that Hayat may face only a fine as a penalty, a consequence viewed as grossly inadequate given the gravity of the crime.
Hayat pleaded guilty in September to one count of intending to racially harass and was sentenced to community service. However, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has now cancelled his visa, placing him in immigration detention while he awaits deportation.
“Our visa system has rules. If you intend to break them, you’ll have your visa cancelled or rejected,” Mr Burke told The West Australian.
Although the Government has not confirmed Hayat’s deportation destination, reports in media suggest he may be sent back to Pakistan.
The Sikh and the Hindu community leaders have described the incident as an attack on the core of their spirituality. The Gutka Sahib, regarded as a living Guru, holds profound significance for Sikhs worldwide. Maninderjeet Singh, a Sikh community spokesperson, said the act has left the community deeply hurt and angry, prompting renewed calls for stricter sacrilege laws.
“This incident is a direct attack on Australia’s multicultural values,” Mr Singh said.
“The community is calling for stronger legal protections against sacrilegious acts, not just for Sikhs but for all faiths represented in Australia.”
Religious groups, including the Sikh Council of Western Australia, condemned the act as “un-Australian” and called for measures to build social harmony. Protests, mourning marches, and awareness rallies have since been held nationwide, demanding stricter laws to address religious hatred and sacrilege.
Religious leaders are urging the Government to take meaningful action to prevent similar incidents in the future and uphold the nation’s commitment to respecting all faiths.
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