Former US official says she couldn't protest anti-Sikh bias while in government

Harmeet K Dhillon, who served as a member of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom during the Trump administration, revealed in recent remarks that she faced Sikh-related hatred while holding the position but could not openly protest against it.

Dhillon, a well-known civil rights attorney and Republican political figure, indicated that her role in the administration imposed restrictions on her ability to speak out against the discrimination she encountered. The constraints of public office, she suggested, prevented her from taking the kind of public action she might have otherwise pursued.

"It's over," Dhillon said in reference to her time in the administration, appearing to mark a transition from that period when such restrictions applied. The disclosure underscores broader tensions around religious discrimination and the professional limitations faced by minority community members serving in government positions.

Dhillon has been a vocal advocate for religious freedom issues affecting Sikhs and other minority communities in her capacity as an attorney and civil rights activist. Her remarks highlight the complexities of representing community interests while navigating the formal constraints of government service.

The statement adds to ongoing discussions in Indian-American and Sikh-American communities about discrimination and representation in American institutions.