this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Jatinder Singh, from Smethwick, was summoned to serve as a juror at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday

But, he said, a security guard refused him entry at the court over his kirpan, the sword carried by all Sikhs.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Mr Singh was released from his duties as there was a surplus of required jurors.

Meanwhile, His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has apologised to Mr Singh.

Khalsa Sikhs carry the five Ks with them at all times, as a symbol of their faith.

These include Kesh or uncut hair; Kara which is a a steel bracelet; the Kanga, a wooden comb; Kacca or cotton underwear and the Kirpan

Mr Singh, who has served as president at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Smethwick and as secretary general of the Sikh Council UK, said this was the second time he has been summoned for jury service, the first passing with no issue.

On this occasion, he entered the morning session with no problems, but when he tried to return to the court after lunch was pulled aside by a security guard and told he could not go in.

"The security guard said I could take [my kirpan] off and leave it with him and collect it at the end of the day," he said.

"I felt like a child who has gone to school and taken something they shouldn't and had it confiscated.

"To have that happen to me, I felt embarrassed, I felt discriminated against, I didn't expect it to happen to me."

He called for the (MoJ) to work with Sikh and other religious organisations to create easily accessible guidelines that can be provided to staff.

Dabinderjit Singh, the principal adviser to the Sikh Federation UK said it had written to Justice Minister Alex Chalk asking him to condemn the treatment of Mr Singh.

The MoJ said members of the Sikh community wishing to enter a court building could bring in a Kirpan which was not more than six inches long (15cm) and with a blade no more than five inches (12cm) in length - which Mr Singh said his was.

A spokesperson for HMCTS added: "We have apologised to Mr Singh for any distress caused and have reminded our contracted security officers of the correct steps to take to prevent this incident from happening again."

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[–] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 23 points 1 year ago (4 children)

"This is my emotional support sword"

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I mean Sikhs have a special dispensation in law explicitly to carry the kirpan to court. It does suck for someone to have a specific law saying "you can definitely do this in this place" and have a rent-a-cop claim his personal decision is more important than the law of the country and a lifetime of religion and culture.

Especially as most kids learn about the 5 K of Sikhism in school.

[–] FastAndBulbous@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We didn't learn about Sikhism in school (actually UK here)

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

I've been out of education (both as a student and educator) for nearly a decade now, but a quick Google tells me that NATRE, AREIAC, AULRE, SACRE and the REC all recommend education on Christianity, Baha'iism, Hinduism, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Humanism but YMMV by teacher, school, LEA, your personal attendance etc.

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee -3 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Where do kids learn about Sikhism in school? Definitely not here in the states.

I would assume they are talking about UK schools, because that is where the event in the article occurred.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

in RE class (religious education)

EDIT: just noticed you said "here in the states" in "UnitedKingdom" — did they undo the revolution, finally?

[–] christophski 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We are definitely made aware of it in school, though not in-depth

[–] FastAndBulbous@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] christophski 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This would have been around 2008 for me, secondary school

[–] FastAndBulbous@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I'm slightly older than you.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's actually an important part of their religious and cultural practices, and according to the article it appears that this man did follow the restrictions placed on these ceremonial blades by the court, so he should not have been denied entry.

[–] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s actually an important part of their religious and cultural practices

that should -imho- never be relevant. Religions shouldn't have any more legal meaning than a book club. but here we are.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I tend to agree, but the place to start isn't by targeting minority religions.

[–] HerbalGamer@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

just wait until we invent actual lightsabers and the jedi start showing up

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

The younglings: "Here we go again!"

Seinfeld slap bass

[–] Bonehead@kbin.social -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But that minority religion is the only one presenting the problem...

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

TIL that adhering to the court's own policy is "causing a problem." Sure, let's just let officials make up rules on the fly instead of applying their own policies fairly. Surely that won't cause any further problems.

[–] Bonehead@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

First, I said "presenting the problem", not "causing a problem".

Second, I didn't say that rules should be made up on the spot. But it should have been dealt with originally instead of letting it get to this point. Rolling over for a single religion is the antithesis of the separation of church and state, regardless of how much of a minority it is.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Rolling over for a single religion

Lmao this is so unhinged and dramatic. Kirpans are generally dull-bladed and less threatening than a sharp pen or pencil. The only religion I see public officials rolling over for is Christianity.

Edit: Also, just change "causing" to "presenting" in my last comment, if you prefer. Either way, it serves to highlight your own folly.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

"What task has it been trained to help you with?"

[–] Veraxus@kbin.social -5 points 1 year ago

So you don't know what the kirpan is for or what it symbolizes.

Way to advertise your ignorance like some maga chud screaming "woke".