UK Sinks Deeper as UK Sikh Wins Bangle Case
BackUPDATE bethld1985 has made a comment on UK Sinks Deeper as UK Sikh Wins Bangle Case: She walkes pass me some mornings in her school clothes and does NOT have the bangle on!!! So why make such a fuss about it in one school and not have it on in another school!!! Guardian.co.uk 29/7/8 Sikh schoolgirl wins bangle court case A Sikh teenager excluded from school for breaking a "no jewellery" rule by refusing to remove a bangle which is central to her faith was a victim of unlawful discrimination, a judge ruled today. The high court judgment means Sarika Watkins-Singh, 14, will return to Aberdare girls' school in South Wales in September - wearing the kara, a slim steel bracelet. The school had twice suspended Sarika for refusing to remove the bangle, which her lawyers told Mr Justice Silber was as important to her as it was to England spin bowler Monty Panesar, who has been pictured wearing the bangle. The school's policy banned girls from wearing any jewellery other than a wristwatch and plain ear studs. Today, the judge declared that the school was guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws. The teenager claimed she was a victim of unlawful discrimination. Human rights group Liberty, which has been supporting Sarika, claims the school breached race, equality and human rights laws by not allowing her to wear the kara. "The school had offered the student reasonable alternatives to accommodate her religious beliefs, such as wearing the bangle but not so that it was on display, and it is frustrating that the courts did not find this acceptable." "The purpose of school uniform is to create a community ethos and no individual pupils should be able to go their own way. Previous judgments recently have reinforced the right of the governing body to make a judgement, following consultation with the community, on what uniform is reasonable." Jeffrey Bacon, a reknowned employment barrister specialising in discrimination, said "...it does pave the way for people to look for chinks in the armour." Bacon, from Littleton Chambers and who is married to a Sikh, said most Sikhs wear the kara and the judgment was important because it defined it as not being a piece of jewellery. "To most people the kara looks like a piece of jewellery but he judged it be one of the five symbols of Sikhism. It would be hard for other people to try and fit into that. "Sikhs as a religious or ethnic group would be less able to comply with the school's policy, which is the start of indirect discrimination," he said. If we allow any religion special educational, political or legal privileges over and above ordinary non-religious people, then it's not that we are opening the door wide to Islam claiming the same rights, but we are taking the hinges off the door and throwing the door away. My question to you is this: Do you really believe that we can use one mindless superstition to fight another mindless superstition? The five Ks of Sikhism Kesh -- not cutting hair Kanga -- the comb to keep hair clean and tidy Kara -- the bracelet symbolising restraint from evil deeds and the infinity of god Kirpan -- the sword emblem of courage and self-defense Kachehra -- a pair of knee-length shorts that represent living a faithful life
Category: News
Uploaded: July 29th, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Author: victimlesscriminal
Length: 02:55
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Tags: aberdare atheism bangle discrimination girls' islam kara racial religious sarika school sikh watkins-singh
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