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Journalism of Courage
A teenage Sikh school girl who was excluded from classes after she refused to remove her ‘kara’, religious bracelet, on Tuesday took her fight to the High Court claiming “unlawful discrimination”.
Aberdare School for Girls in South Wales insisted that 14-year-old Sarika Singh take classes on her own for two months before excluding her in November for refusing to take off her silver ‘kara’, one of the five symbols of the Sikh faith that baptised followers are expected to wear at all times.
The symbols known as five Ks, includes ‘kesh’ (uncut hair), ‘kanga’ (wooden comb), ‘kaccha’ (underwear) and ‘kirpan’ (strapped sword).
The school had argued that its uniform policy forbids all forms of jewellery, including religious symbols.
But Sarika’s family, backed by civil rights group Liberty, said the rules breached race relations and human rights laws which specifically protect Sikhs.
The judicial challenge to readmit Sarika to the school with her ‘kara’ is expected to last three days.
On Friday, the Singh family handed a petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown urging him to intervene in the issue to show that “discrimination is totally unacceptable”.
The petition has been signed at 150 Gurdwaras and more than 250 Sikh organisations. More than 100 MPs have also offered support.
