Sikh Schoolgirl, 14, Fights For Right To Wear Bangle

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Sikh schoolgirl, 14, fights for right to wear bangle

By Jerome Taylor

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

A Sikh schoolgirl who was excluded from classes because she refused to remove a religious bracelet will take her fight to the High Court today in what could prove to be a pivotal case in the debate over religious expression in schools.

Aberdare School for Girls in south Wales insisted Sarika Singh, 14, take classes on her own for two months before excluding her in November for refusing to take off a silver bracelet known as a kara – one of the five symbols of the Sikh faith that baptised followers are expected to wear at all times. The symbols, known as the five Ks, also include kesh (uncut hair), kanga (wooden comb), kaccha (specially-designed underwear) and kirpan (strapped sword).

The school argued that its uniform policy forbade all forms of jewellery which include religious symbols, but her family and supporters, backed by civil liberties group Liberty, say the rules breach race relations and human rights laws which specifically protect Sikhs.

The judicial challenge, an attempt to force the school to readmit Sarika with her kara, is expected to last three days. Lawyers representing the schoolgirl, will argue the school's actions contradict a previous ruling which enshrined the right for Sikh boys to wear turbans at school should they wish to. In the 1983 Mandla v Lee ruling, the House of Lords defined Sikhs as a race, not just a religious group, protected from discrimination under the Race Relations Act.

Sarika said she felt compelled to protect the rights of all Sikh children who wish to wear the symbols of their faith. "I never thought I would be forced by a school to choose between my religion and my education," she said.

On Friday the Singh family delivered a petition to Downing Street, calling on Gordon Brown to intervene. The petition has been signed at 150 Sikh temples and more than 250 Sikh organisations, and more than 100 MPs have offered support.

Sarika started wearing the kara after a trip to India in 2005. It is one of the most popular Sikh symbols and encourages Sikhs to remember God in all their actions. Her parents say the school let her wear the bracelet for nearly two years and claim it was only when they complained about Sarika being bullied for being a Sikh that the school insisted she remove it. A spokesman for the school, which lists "tolerance of other races, religions" among its core values, said: "Our policy remains, as it has over the past six months, no comment."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/educatio...gle-848501.html

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'Bangle' girl case reaches court

The case of the Cynon Valley schoolgirl sent home for wearing a Sikh religious bracelet will be heard by a High Court judge in London later.

Aberdare Girls School says its "no jewellery" policy is fair to everyone.

But Sarika Singh, 14, who has the backing of civil rights and Sikh organisations, says the kara is an important part of her religion.

Since February, Sarika has been attending another school at Mountain Ash, where the kara is permitted.

Last week, Sarika and her family took their case to No 10 Downing Street, delivering a petition signed by Sikh and non-Sikh organisations.

Sarika, the only Sikh pupil at Aberdare Girls' School, was excluded in November, after being taught in isolation for two months.

The school bans girls from wearing jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs.

The governors rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail.

Human rights group Liberty claims the school is violating the Race Relations Act 1976, the Equality Act 2006 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

In January, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council told the school's governors it would no longer give them any more support or financial assistance and confirmed this was continuing for the court case.

In the same month, the Welsh Assembly Government published new guidelines for school governors, saying they should take account of religious views and consider whether uniform policy interfered with the right to manifest a religion or belief.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/7458139.stm

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Excluded Sikh schoolgirl takes bangle battle to high court

Lee Glendinning

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday June 17 2008

A teenage girl who was banned from school after wearing a steel bangle that she says is pivotal to her Sikh faith has taken her case to the high court today.

Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, near Aberdare, south Wales, claims she was the victim of unlawful discrimination when she was excluded from Aberdare girls' school in November last year after refusing to remove her kara.

The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh student, insists the only jewellery pupils can wear is a pair of plain earstuds and a watch.

The complainant's lawyers told the court this morning that the simple wrist bangle was not a piece of jewellery but a symbol of her Sikh faith.

The judge, Justice Stephen Silber, was shown a photograph of the England spin bowler Monty Panesar wearing a kara. The judge said he wanted examine one of the bangles during the hearing, which is scheduled to run for three days.

Since being excluded from the Aberdare school, Sarika has enrolled at Mountain Ash comprehensive, where she is allowed to wear the kara. But her mother believes her daughter's education has suffered as a result of the stress associated with the move and the legal case.

The family has handed a petition to the prime minister, Gordon Brown, asking him to intervene in the matter to "show discrimination is totally unacceptable".

Liberty, the human rights group, said it believed Aberdare girls school had breached race, equality and human rights laws.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/17/religion.schools

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Sikh girl takes her fight to wear religious bracelet at school to the High Court

The Daily Telegraph

By Lucy Cockcroft

Last updated: 1:05 PM BST 17/06/2008

A Sikh schoolgirl who was excluded from classes when she refused to remove a bracelet worn as a symbol of her faith will take her fight to the High Court today.

Lawyers representing Sarika Singh, 14, are hoping the judge will rule that she was the victim of unlawful discrimination, in a case which could prove to be pivotal in the debate over religious dress in schools.

Aberdare Girls' School in south Wales insisted that Sakira take classes on her own for two months before finally excluding her last November after she refused to remove the small steel bangle, known as a Kara.

The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh, does not permit jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs.

The kara is one of the five Ks, symbols of the Sikh faith that followers are expected to wear at all times.

In February, Sarika enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, which allows her to wear the Kara, pending the outcome of her court challenge.

Her mother, Sinita, 38, has said that, although Mountain Ash is a good school, her daughter's education suffered as a result of the move and the stress involved in the run-up to her GCSEs.

Last Friday, the family travelled to 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene in the matter "to show discrimination is totally unacceptable".

The petition gained the backing of 150 Gurdwaras - the main Sikh religious institutions - and over 200 Sikh organisations and 70 non-Sikh organisations.

Human rights group Liberty, which is supporting Sarika's High Court battle, claims Aberdare Girls' School breached race, equality and human rights laws by not allowing Sarika to wear the Kara.

Today's hearing, before Mr Justice Silber, is set for three days.

Story from Telegraph News:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2143805/Si...High-Court.html

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Sikh girl goes to court over bangle

Joanna Sugden

The Times

June 17, 2008

A photo of England’s spin bowler Monty Panesar was shown to a High Court judge today in the hearing of a Sikh girl excluded from school for wearing a bracelet as part of her religion.

The court heard that the steel bangle worn by Sikhs, including cricketer Panesar, was a symbol of faith, not a piece of jewellery, and the school had breached Sarika Watkins-Singh's human rights by banning her from wearing it.

The 14-year-old is appealing against the decision by Aberdare Girls’ School in South Wales to refuse to exempt her from the strict uniform policy, which bans the wearing of religious symbols.

When Sarika would not remove the bangle, known as a Kara, she was taught “in educational and social segregation during school hours” for some months before being excluded for a day, then for five days and finally indefinitely, said her lawyer Helen Mountfield.

The judge, Mr Justice Silber, must decide whether the school’s policy amounted to unlawful discrimination under the 1976 Race Relations Act, the freedom of religion provisions of the 2006 Equality Act and the 1998 Human Rights Act.

Ms Mountfield showed the judge a picture of Panesar wearing the bangle when he asked to see what a Kara was.She told him the Kara was one of the five Ks of Sikhism, and worn by more Sikhs than the turban, which is not one of the Ks.

She cited a House of Lords decision 25 years ago, which had never been questioned, that a Sikh boy was subjected to indirect race discrimination when he was told he could only attend a school if he cut his hair and ceased wearing a turban.

She said: “There is no string of authority to say that school uniform rules may trump religious dress codes”.

Mr Justice Silber commented that the only issue of fact in the case seemed to be whether Sarika was actually obliged by her religion to wear the Kara.

In February, Sarika began at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, where she can wear the Kara, pending the outcome of her court challenge.

Her mother, Sinita, 38, has said that, although Mountain Ash is a good school, her daughter’s education suffered as a result of the move and the stress involved in the run-up to her GCSEs. The family presented a petition to 10 Downing Street seeking support for the case and backed by 150 Gurdwaras - the main Sikh religious institutions - and over 200 Sikh organisations and 70 non-Sikh organisations. 100 MPs have also offered their support.

The hearing is expected to last three days.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4158436.ece

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Another article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7...100/7459136.stm

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Sikh bangle means as much to Monty Panesar as it does to teenager, court told

From The Times

June 18, 2008

Frances Gibb, Legal Editor

A simple steel wrist bangle means as much to Sarika Watkins-Singh, 14, as it does to the England spin bowler Monty Panesar, the High Court was told yesterday.

The bangle is a symbol of her Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery, Sarika’s lawyers said as they brought a challenge to a ban imposed by her school.

Mr Justice Silber said that he would like to see one of the bangles – known as the kara – during the hearing, which is set for three days.

In the meantime, Helen Mountfield, Sarika’s counsel, referred the judge to a photograph of Panesar wearing the kara as one of the symbols of the Sikh faith.

The Punjabi-Welsh girl, from Cwmbach, near Aberdare, South Wales, claims that she was the victim of unlawful discrimination when she was excluded from Aberdare Girls’ School last November after refusing to remove the bangle.

The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh among 600 girls, does not permit jewellery other than wristwatches and ear studs.

In February, Sarika enrolled at another school, Mountain Ash Comprehensive, which allows her to wear the kara. Her mother, Sinita, 38, has said that, although Mountain Ash is a good school, her daughter’s education suffered as a result of the move, in the build-up to her GCSEs.

Last Friday, the family travelled to 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition, calling on Gordon Brown to intervene in the matter “to show discrimination is totally unacceptable”.

The petition gained the backing of 150 gurdwaras – the main Sikh religious institutions – and more than 200 Sikh organisations and 70 non-Sikh organisations. More than 100 MPs also offered support.

Liberty, the human rights group, which is supporting Sarika’s case, claims that Aberdare Girls’ School breached race, equality and human rights laws by not allowing her to wear the kara.

Ms Mountfield said that the kara was one of the five Ks of Sikhism, the others being the kesh (uncut hair), the kanga (wooden comb), the kaccha (specially designed shorts) and the kirpan (sword). The girls’ school allowed for no exceptions to its uniform policy and there was no mechanism for seeking exceptions on cultural or religious grounds.

Sarika was taught separately for some months – “in educational and social segregation during school hours” – before being excluded for a day, then for five days and finally indefinitely, Ms Mountfield said.

The central legal issue was whether the school’s policy amounted to unlawful discrimination under the Race Relations Act 1976, the freedom of religion provisions of the Equality Act 2006 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

Ms Mountfield cited a House of Lords decision 25 years ago, which had never been questioned, that a Sikh boy was subjected to indirect race discrimination when he was told he could only attend a school if he cut his hair and ceased wearing a turban.

Mr Justice Silber said that the only issue of fact in the case seemed to be whether Sarika was actually obliged by her religion to wear the kara. Ms Mountfield said it would not be right for a secular court to try to decide such an issue. The fact was that Sarika regarded herself as being under an obligation. The question was whether it was more disadvantageous to her to be told to remove the kara than it would be for another pupil to be told to remove a bangle.

The case continues.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/f...icle4160378.ece

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More articles:

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/48751/...-Monty-for-help

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/250860.php/...n-UK-court-told

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Articles are now slowing down (see links below).

Today is the last day in court.

The judgement will almost certainly come much later, weeks if not months.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1172136

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=l...mp;newsid=81673

http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=061951

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/St...2%80%99s+appeal

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/18/Tee...99621213798853/

http://www.atl.org.uk/atl_en/news/educatio...=&category=

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

'Bangle' girl begins ruling wait

BBC News

A schoolgirl may have to wait until next month for the outcome of her legal bid to topple a school's decision to exclude her for wearing a Sikh bangle.

At the end of a three day hearing, a High Court judge has reserved his ruling and said his decision may not come until the end of July.

Sarika Watkins-Singh was banned from Aberdare Girls' School, south Wales as she would not remove the bangle.

The hearing in London looked at whether the school's decision was justified.

The 14-year-old from Cwmbach, near Aberdare, who was excluded last November, has claimed unlawful discrimination.

At the beginning of the hearing, her barrister Helen Mountfield said the bangle - known as a Kara - means as much to Sarika as it does to England cricketer Monty Panesar.

She told Mr Justice Silber it is one of the symbols of their Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery.

Ear studs

The school, at which Sarika was the only Sikh pupil among 600 girls, does not permit jewellery other than wristwatches and plain ear studs.

But Sarika's lawyers claimed the school's policy was inflexible and a violation of race equality and general human rights laws.

Jonathan Auburn for Aberdare Girls' School, rejected claims the school had adopted an inflexible and overly-rigid policy, also insisting that the school authorities were never "blind to exceptions".

Ms Mountfield said the Kara was one of the five Ks of Sikhism, the others being the Kesh (uncut hair), the Kanga (wooden comb), the Kaccha (cotton underwear) and the Kirpan (sword).

The Kara is worn by more Sikhs than the turban, which is not one of the Ks, she said.

In February, Sarika enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, which allows her to wear the Kara, pending the outcome of her court challenge.

Her mother, Sinita, 38, has said that, although Mountain Ash is a good school, her daughter's education suffered as a result of the move and the stress involved in the run-up to her GCSEs.

Last Friday, the family travelled to 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition calling on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to intervene in the matter "to show discrimination is totally unacceptable".

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/7463747.stm