A South Asian radio host in Richmond, BC, has been suspended after commenting that the husband of a woman who killed herself in New York City after what she described as years of domestic abuse should not be automatically charged because she was not criminally charged in the tragedy . Paul Brar, host of Sher E Punjab AM 600, spoke on-air Thursday about the death of Mandeep Kaur, who killed herself last week after posting a video online accusing her husband of physically assaulting her for years and begging for aid. Other videos posted online appear to show Kaur, 30, being choked and suffocated by a man in a house, while the sound of screaming children can be heard. Brar’s comments about the death have been condemned online and by advocates supporting victims of domestic violence.
“We take this matter very seriously”
On Friday morning, the station announced that Brar had been suspended and had launched an internal review into the matter, with the results to be made public. “The management and staff of Sher E Punjab do not condone or condone violence in any form and strongly oppose any form of bullying that targets women, the elderly, children and the most vulnerable among us,” the statement on the station’s website said. “We apologize for any offense caused and assure all of our listeners that we will take this matter very seriously.” A statement posted on the website of Sher E Punjab AM 600 regarding the suspension of host Paul Brar on Friday. (Sher E Punjab) Advocates for domestic abuse victims worry the station won’t do enough to respond to Barr’s comments and learn from them. “What happens now, all the staff are trained, trained, the organization sits down and does an introspection?” said Satwinder Baines, director of South Asian studies at the University of the Fraser Valley. The station had no further comment Saturday when contacted by CBC News. Nimi Chouhan, founder of Sahara Services Society in Surrey, which supports South Asian women, children and families affected by domestic violence and abuse, said Brar’s comments made it harder for victims to speak out, get help or leave abusive marriages . “These kinds of thoughts and behaviors are perpetuated in our community, but our radio hosts, our television, our dramas and our movies, continue to allow and perpetuate and rely on everything that makes victims and survivors of it very. harder for them.” Members of Surrey’s South Asian community plan to hold a vigil for Kaur on Sunday. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, VictimLinkBC is a free, confidential, multilingual service available throughout BC and the Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808 or emailing [email protected]. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
