Sikh Play Protester Loses Appeal

[Guest lowest of the low singhni]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5223638.stm

Sikh play protester loses appeal

The theatre closed the play for health and safety reasons

The use of anti-social behaviour laws to break up a protest by Sikhs against a controversial play worked well, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Pritpal Singh, of Coventry, brought a legal challenge after he was arrested for failing to leave a protest against Behzti at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

His lawyers said a "lawful protest" should not be restricted by police use of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

But judges dismissed the appeal, saying police actions were lawful.

Author in hiding

Lady Justice Hallett, giving the lead ruling on Friday, said Mr Singh's argument paid "scant regard" to the rights of those who wrote and staged the play and those who wanted to see it.

"They too had the right to freedom of expression, just as the adults and children who were at or near the theatre that day had the right to go about their business without being subjected to scenes which were unnecessarily frightening, intimidating and distressing."

The play depicted acts of rape and violence in a Sikh temple and its author, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, was forced into hiding after receiving death threats.

"The protesters gradually, if reluctantly, left the scene and more trouble was averted" - Lady Justice Hallett

The theatre - which refused to censor the work - eventually cancelled its run based on health and safety grounds.

Mr Singh's case centred on a protest on 16 December 2004 and he said his motives in taking part were "entirely peaceful".

He said the only "violence" was when one protester kicked a plastic bin and another set off a fire alarm.

At a later protest on 18 December three police officers were hurt during clashes when 400 demonstrators gathered. Mr Singh did not attend the later protest.

Lady Justice Hallett said on Friday the use of the Act in the earlier demonstration "involved no deprivation of liberty or other sanction unless the direction order was disobeyed".

She said she had watched the video recording of the event, which showed that police use of the powers to disperse had the desired effect.

"They worked well. The protesters gradually, if reluctantly, left the scene and more trouble was averted."

High Court judges in November last year backed the police over the demonstration and refused to allow a judicial review of their decision to use the Act to disperse Sikh protesters during a matinee performance.

[nanakbhatti]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5223638.stm

Sikh play protester loses appeal

The theatre closed the play for health and safety reasons

The use of anti-social behaviour laws to break up a protest by Sikhs against a controversial play worked well, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Pritpal Singh, of Coventry, brought a legal challenge after he was arrested for failing to leave a protest against Behzti at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

His lawyers said a "lawful protest" should not be restricted by police use of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

But judges dismissed the appeal, saying police actions were lawful.

Author in hiding

Lady Justice Hallett, giving the lead ruling on Friday, said Mr Singh's argument paid "scant regard" to the rights of those who wrote and staged the play and those who wanted to see it.

"They too had the right to freedom of expression, just as the adults and children who were at or near the theatre that day had the right to go about their business without being subjected to scenes which were unnecessarily frightening, intimidating and distressing."

The play depicted acts of rape and violence in a Sikh temple and its author, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, was forced into hiding after receiving death threats.

"The protesters gradually, if reluctantly, left the scene and more trouble was averted" - Lady Justice Hallett

The theatre - which refused to censor the work - eventually cancelled its run based on health and safety grounds.

Mr Singh's case centred on a protest on 16 December 2004 and he said his motives in taking part were "entirely peaceful".

He said the only "violence" was when one protester kicked a plastic bin and another set off a fire alarm.

At a later protest on 18 December three police officers were hurt during clashes when 400 demonstrators gathered. Mr Singh did not attend the later protest.

Lady Justice Hallett said on Friday the use of the Act in the earlier demonstration "involved no deprivation of liberty or other sanction unless the direction order was disobeyed".

She said she had watched the video recording of the event, which showed that police use of the powers to disperse had the desired effect.

"They worked well. The protesters gradually, if reluctantly, left the scene and more trouble was averted."

High Court judges in November last year backed the police over the demonstration and refused to allow a judicial review of their decision to use the Act to disperse Sikh protesters during a matinee performance.

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Viva USA, Viva KHALISTAN, Viva ISRAEL.

I am proud to call myself a JINGOISTIC AMERICAN SIKH.

[Lionchild]

the play should continue to operate, it's time to break the silence with this issue.

I hope peopel will fight agsint this opression.

[Guest Bass Singh]

VJKK VJKF!

LIONCHILD R U SAYING THEY SHOULD STILL SHOW THE PLAY???

VJKK VJKF!

[Akali]

Just because the play is about Sikh's and rape etc going on in a gurudwara, people say the play should be allowed. It shouldn't. I remember reading in a local paper, that the theatre management said that the people protesting were wrong and the play is a form of art and should be allowed.

I ask people like this, why don't we make a play about child abuse taking place in a church and this has happened a lot in Britain? Watch all these people gang up and say that the play shouldn;t be allowed. Talk about double standards. It's like people believe treat the Sikh's like they are nothing but watch how you treat everyone else.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

[singh_sandhu]

the play should continue to operate, it's time to break the silence with this issue.

I hope peopel will fight agsint this opression.

Nah i dont think the play shud operate. Its budhnaamee 2 us Sikhs. :D We cant be fashion items, and take all the p*ss take ov us. HELL NO !

More riots wud be the outcome if the play is operated.