Highlights:
- Australia’s Sikh community has urged the NSW government to withdraw the ban on carrying kirpan in schools
- In a joint statement from more than 50 Sikh organisations, the ASA demands a review of the school policy
- NSW Department of Education changed its policy after the alleged stabbing of a student in Sydney earlier this month
The Australian Sikh Association (ASA) that serves Sydney’s Gurdwara Sahib Glenwood, which has the largest Sikh congregation in Australia, demands the government review its decision that bars carrying a kirpan (a ceremonial dagger carried by baptised Sikhs as an article of faith) in the state’s public schools.
“We call upon the state government to withdraw the ban and work with the Sikh community to arrive at a workable solution that guarantees the safety of all Australians while maintaining our right to practice our religion,” ASA said in a joint statement with nearly 50 Sikh organisations across Australia.
“We call upon the decision-makers and influencers of the NSW state government to protect our freedom of religion, which had given us solace and support when we immigrated to this lovely country that we have made our home and raised families in,” the statement added.
The statement also mentioned that the ban was imposed without taking the Sikh community into confidence or consultation, in response to an alleged incident involving a 14-year-old Sikh student, who is “believed to have been bullied in school”.
“The Sikh community unanimously condemns bullying and the consequences that follow if bullying is left unchecked. We also offer any support required to both students involved in this incident and to their families.
“We also strongly urge the state government to address issues related to bullying of Sikh students that might go unreported by establishing a task force” the statement elaborated.
Sikhs meet over kirpan ban
Dozens of members from Australia’s Sikh community last night held a zoom meeting with the Education Minister Sarah Mitchell to discuss their concerns about a ban on religious knives at NSW schools.
The ban came into effect this week after a 14-year-old boy allegedly used a kirpan to stab a 16-year-old boy at Glenwood High.
The minister told the ABC afterwards it was a “good discussion with Sikh leaders” and they agreed “to work together to find an appropriate solution to the issue”.
Indian community leader Gurnam Singh took part in the zoom meeting, and said the Minister was urged to consider a compromise including allowing the kirpan in schools under the condition that they remain locked in a case.
“It can be a different idea, I think people can come up with a resolution because I do believe Australia is a multicultural country and they always support all the culture and the religion,” he said.
Meanwhile, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has defended her government’s decision citing safety as the reason behind this ban on carrying all types of knives in the state’s public schools.
She said New South Wales education minister Sarah Mitchell had met leaders of the Sikh community on 17 May before announcing this decision.
“I know she’s put to them suggestions about having appropriate symbols to replace a weapon. I don’t think taking a weapon of any description to school in this day and age is appropriate. However, we appreciate symbols or other equivalent gestures may be appropriate,” she said.
This comes in the wake of an incident at Glenwood High School in Sydney’s northwest two weeks ago when a 14-year old boy allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old using his kirpan.