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| Sikh Wearing Holy Dagger (KIRPAN) |
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC (Jan. 18, 2011) - Today the World Sikh Organization of Canada was excluded from the Quebec National Assembly and prevented from speaking in favour of religious accommodation for veiled Muslim women because the Sikhs also wear articles of faith the Assembly has prohibited in its government buildings. WSO was scheduled to make a presentation on Bill 94 which would deny essential government services, public employment, educational opportunities and health care to individuals who wear facial coverings.
The WSO's team was excluded from the hearing before the Committee on Institutions because they wear the kirpan, a Sikh article of faith that resembles a small stylized sword. It is secured in its case and worn under clothing, fastened into a cloth belt. The Sikh faith requires initiated men and women to wear the kirpan at all times.
Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the WSO, said the group was given conflicting information about whether the kirpan could be worn to the hearing. The kirpan is accommodated in the Canadian Parliament, Supreme Court of Canada and even in security-conscious international events like the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
