UK Sikh girl fights schools uniform policy barring her from wearing a kara
June 17th, 2008 - 1:11 pm ICT by ANI
London , June 17 (ANI): A 14-year-old Sikh girl in the UK is fighting against her schools uniform policy that debarred her from the school for wearing kara, a symbol of Sikhism.
The girl refused to remove the religious bracelet as, she said, she felt compelled to protect the rights of all Sikh children who wish to wear the symbols of their faith. I never thought I would be forced by a school to choose between my religion and my education, The Independent quoted her as saying.
According to the paper, the girls family has delivered a petition to Downing Street , calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene. The petition has been signed at 150 Gurudwaras and more than 250 Sikh organisations, with more than 100 MPs supporting it.
The Aberdare School for Girls in south Wales insisted that Sarika Singh take classes on her own for two months before excluding her in November for refusing to take off the kara one of the five symbols of the Sikh faith that baptised followers are expected to wear at all times. The school authorities maintained that she was forbidden because the schools uniform policy forbade all forms of jewellery, including religious symbols.
But, the girls family and supporters, backed by civil liberties group Liberty , say the rules breach race relations and human rights laws which specifically protect Sikhs.
Sarika started wearing the kara after a trip to India in 2005. Her parents said the school let her wear the bracelet for nearly two years and claimed that it was only when they complained about Sarika being bullied for being a Sikh that the school insisted that she should remove it.
A spokesman for the school, which lists “tolerance of other races, religions” among its core values, said: “Our policy remains, as it has over the past six months, no comment.” (ANI)
- Sikh kids should be allowed to wear ceremonial daggers in public: Brit Asian judge - Feb 08, 2010
- Brit school that banned Sikh girl from wearing bracelet asked to pay 76K pounds - Nov 17, 2008
- School gets huge bill for banning Sikh bracelet - Apr 20, 2009
- Sikh girls bangle discrimination win will impact UK uniform rules - Jul 30, 2008
- Sikh teenager wins bangle discrimination fight - Jul 30, 2008
- We have a right to wear the Kirpan, says British Sikh judge - Feb 08, 2010
- Sikh schoolgirls kara is a matter of faith not fashion, UK court told - Jun 18, 2008
- Excluded Sikh girl's mother seeks Brown's intervention - Jun 14, 2008
- British school sends Sikh girl home for wearing a Kara - Nov 14, 2007
- Non-baptised Sikhs can vote in SGPC polls: Court - Dec 20, 2011
- British Sikh girl wins right to wear kada in school - Jul 29, 2008
- Sikh 'kadas' are okay, even Monty wears one, British court told - Jun 18, 2008
- Sikhs allowed by UK Health Department to wear karas while dealing with patients - Apr 12, 2010
- Sehajdhari Sikhs want cancellation of SGPC poll - Dec 21, 2011
- India presses France to resolve turban ban issue - Oct 20, 2011
Tags: civil liberties group, core values, downing street, followers, girl fights, gordon brown, gurudwaras, kara, mps, petition, prime minister gordon brown, race relations, religious symbols, sarika, school authorities, sikh faith, sikhs, south wales, symbol of sikhism, uniform policy
