Australia to deport man accused of Gutka Sahib sacrilege

Melbourne: Australian authorities have decided to cancel the visa of Khizar Hayat, 21, accused of desecrating the Gutka Sahib and scattering its pages outside a gurdwara in Perth.

The incident, which occurred in August near Gurdwara Canning Vale, sparked outrage after a video of the sacrilege surfaced on social media.

Western Australian police arrested Hayat days after the incident, charging him with sacrilege. The matter was raised at various levels, urging strict action against the accused.

In a decisive move, Australian Housing Minister Tony Burke canceled Hayat’s visa and confirmed his expulsion from the country. Hayat, who is currently under house arrest at an immigration detention center, will be deported following further legal procedures.

Hayat, originally from Pakistan, faced significant backlash from the Sikh community in Australia. The Sikh Association of Western Australia expressed gratitude to Housing Minister Burke and state MP Sam Lim for their swift support in addressing the issue.