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Sikh children can carry kirpan
in 61 schools in US
WSN Network
 WASHINGTON: Sikh
students enrolled in 61 schools run by the National Heritage
Academies in the US have been allowed to carry ‘kirpan’, a symbol of
their faith, subject to certain restrictions.
The National
Heritage Academies (NHA), which runs its schools in the states of
Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Indiana, North Carolina and New York, has
allowed Sikh children to carry ‘kirpan’ in the institutions, a
statement issued by the United Sikhs, a Sikh advocacy group, said.
It all started
when Sukhmeet Kaur, a Sikh student in the 8th grade, was ordered by
school authorities to remove her ‘kirpan’ during school hours or not
to come to school at all.
After being
approached by her father, Gobinder Singh, the United Sikhs’ legal
team wrote to the school, the Endeavour Charter Academy at
Springfield in Michigan.
“It really
affects a child’s growth when they cannot practise their faith
freely. It is important for my daughter to have her freedom of
religion, especially since she made her own commitment to become
‘amrit-dhari’ last year,” Singh said.
However, NHA has
imposed certain restrictions under which students are required to
inform school before wearing ‘kirpan’. The students and parents need
to sign an agreement and the blade must be dull and under three
inches long.
Further, the
‘kirpan’ must be sewn tightly into its sheath and worn under the
clothing so that it is not visible. The students should not remove
it from its sheath or from under clothing in school and they must
allow periodic inspections to ensure the conditions are being
fulfilled.
30
September 2009
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