Independent MP Adnan Hussain has supported Southampton’s Sikh community following reports of growing fear and intimidation following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Novak, saying no group should be blamed for the actions of an individual.In a post on X, the Blackburn MP said Sikh residents should not face harassment over a crime committed by one person.Hussain wrote, “This is horrifying. No community should live in fear like this and no community should be held responsible for an individual’s crimes.”“Solidarity with the Sikh community. The government must ensure that its safety is prioritized and necessary assurances are provided.”His comments come after Sikh community leaders in Southampton reported an increase in racial abuse and hostility after 23-year-old Vikram Singh Digwa was convicted of Novak’s murder.Digva was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years for the December 2025 fatal attack on a university student with a 21 cm kirpan, a ceremonial blade held by some Sikhs as a symbol of faith. During the investigation, Digwa falsely claimed that she was racially abused, which was rejected by the court.Representatives of Southampton’s Sikh community told The Times that many residents now feel unsafe in public and are avoiding routine activities, including visits to local gurudwaras.A spokesperson for the Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar said some members had faced racial abuse at workplaces, supermarkets and care facilities, and a community memorial event was canceled due to safety concerns.“We feel victimized and people are afraid to come out of their homes,” the spokesperson said, adding that public discussion of the case has unfairly associated the broader Sikh community with the actions of one individual.Community leaders have also resisted criticism of the kirpan, arguing that the weapon used in the attack should not define the religious article celebrated by Sikhs worldwide.Representatives of the community have also called for peace and urged residents not to be angry at the broader Sikh population, stressing that the killing was the act of an individual rather than a reflection of the entire religious community.