Kaur to Khan (conversion network)

Kaur to Khan (also known as K2K or Project K2K) is a conversion network associated with the religious conversion of Sikh women and girls to Islam, primarily reported by Sikh organisations and media outlets. The movement is associated with incidents reported in the United Kingdom and Pakistan, where Sikh organisations and media reports have identified repeated involvement of Muslim men, particularly of Pakistani origin.

The name symbolically contrasts the mandatory Sikh female surname Kaur ("princess") with the Muslim surname Khan, and is used to describe situations in which Sikh women adopt Islamic identities following grooming, coercion, marriage, or conversion.

The term and associated concerns emerged within Sikh diaspora communities in the United Kingdom during the early 2000s and gained visibility through awareness campaigns, media investigations, and community-led safeguarding efforts.

Sikh organisations have stated that incidents consistent with what later came to be described as "Kaur to Khan" were reported prior to the 2000s, with community documentation and testimony indicating cases dating back to the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s in parts of England with significant Punjabi-speaking populations.

Indian media outlets have also reported on the issue in the context of diaspora safety and minority protection, linking incidents in the United Kingdom with long-standing concerns regarding forced religious conversion of Sikh girls in Pakistan.

Etymology and symbolism

Kaur is a mandatory surname for Sikh women, instituted by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 to affirm dignity, equality, and religious identity. Khan is a commonly used Muslim surname in South Asia, particularly among Pakistani and Afghan Muslims.

Within public discourse, the phrase "Kaur to Khan" is used to describe cases where Sikh women are reported to have been converted to Islam and assigned Islamic names following relationships or marriage.

Early discussions using similar terminology appeared in Sikh community forums during the mid-2000s, including gurdwara-based awareness talks and online discussions such as those recorded on Sikh Sangat forums in 2007.

Background

Sikh advocacy organisations have documented recurring patterns involving identity concealment, grooming through relationships, sexual exploitation, and subsequent pressure to convert to Islam. These patterns have been reported primarily in cases involving Muslim men targeting Sikh girls.

In several reported cases, perpetrators were alleged to have concealed their religious identity by adopting Sikh-sounding names, wearing a kada, or claiming Sikh heritage in order to gain trust.

Awareness initiatives expanded during the mid-2000s through gurdwara-based campaigns, youth seminars, and outreach programmes conducted by organisations such as the Sikh Awareness Society and Basics of Sikhi.

The movement has also been discussed on digital platforms. A 2024 episode of Mittran Da Podcast titled Mission Kaur To Khan addressed grooming methods, religious concealment, and the role of Islamic conversion following exploitation.

Social media awareness material has also circulated, including short-form videos and campaign posts highlighting reported cases and warning families about grooming tactics.

Reported patterns

According to investigations cited by Sikh advocacy groups and independent media outlets, alleged cases commonly involve:

• Concealment of religious identity during initial contact
• Use of shared Punjabi language and cultural familiarity
• Provision of gifts, alcohol, or narcotics during grooming
• Emotional manipulation and isolation from family
• Sexual exploitation followed by pressure to convert to Islam
• Forced or coerced marriage after conversion

Some Sikh organisations have further alleged that informal religious or social networks were involved in facilitating conversions, including claims that financial incentives of up to £10,000 were offered following successful marriage or conversion. These claims have been reported through community testimony and advocacy material.

These patterns have been described as consistent across incidents reported in both Europe and Pakistan, though legal outcomes have varied by jurisdiction.

United Kingdom

IndiaToday

(@IndiaToday)

tweeted:

English:

UK Grooming Gang Horror. This is not an isolated incident at all; it's part of a project called turning Kaurs into Khans, and this has been happening for the past two and a half decades- Harmeet Singh – Communications & Advocacy Director, United Sikhs (UK)

15 January 2026

In the United Kingdom, the movement is discussed alongside grooming gang cases in which perpetrators have been identified in multiple investigations as Muslim men of Pakistani origin. Sikh organisations state that shared Punjabi language and cultural familiarity were used to gain trust before exploitation.

A 2013 BBC investigation reported concerns within Sikh families regarding underreporting of sexual exploitation, describing what was termed a "code of silence" that discouraged victims from approaching authorities.

While individual grooming cases have resulted in criminal convictions, no official inquiry has confirmed the existence of a centrally organised or formally coordinated "Kaur to Khan" network. Sikh organisations continue to maintain that repeated case patterns indicate systematic targeting, while institutional findings have largely classified incidents within broader child sexual exploitation frameworks.

2026 West London case

In January 2026, a Sikh girl aged between 15 and 16 in Hounslow, West London, was reportedly abducted, blackmailed, and gang-raped by six Muslim men identified by media reports as part of a Pakistani grooming gang. The incident triggered protests by the Sikh community and resulted in police intervention and arrests.

Indian media including Panchjanya and Babushahi Hindi extensively covered the incident and linked it with earlier cases of forced conversion and sexual exploitation involving Sikh girls, describing the issue as part of a wider minority rights concern affecting Sikh communities across borders.

Europe

Media investigations have reported that Sikh communities in Germany, Italy, and other European countries have raised concerns about organised efforts by Pakistan-based Islamist groups operating within diaspora networks.

A report by News Intervention stated that Pakistani radical Islamist groups based in Germany were allegedly involved in targeting Sikh girls through social media, religious deception, and marriage-based conversion strategies.

Pakistan

Sikh population decline

At the time of the Partition of India in 1947, Pakistan was home to an estimated 1.9 to 2 million Sikhs, primarily in West Punjab. Following partition-related violence, mass displacement, and the establishment of Pakistan as an Islamic state, the Sikh population declined rapidly.

As of 2023, Pakistan’s Sikh population is estimated at approximately 16,000 people, representing about 0.01 percent of the national population. Sikh organisations have linked this decline to persistent insecurity, religious discrimination, forced conversions, and targeted attacks on minorities.

Abduction and forced conversion cases

Numerous media reports document cases in which Sikh girls in Pakistan were abducted by Muslim men, forcibly converted to Islam, and married. Many cases involved minors.

Investigations published by CasteFiles have linked these incidents to entrenched caste hierarchies, weak legal enforcement, and social pressure placed on minority families seeking justice.

Community response

Sikh organisations including the Sikh Awareness Society, Sikh Youth UK, United Sikhs, and diaspora groups have organised protests, awareness drives, victim support initiatives, and international appeals demanding accountability from Pakistani authorities and stronger protection for Sikh women.

See also

• Child sexual exploitation in the United Kingdom
• Forced religious conversion
• Sikh diaspora
• Religious minorities in Pakistan