Derby, East Midlands, UK (KP) - On Monday 5th December, 16 years old Sam Morris, was sent home by her school after she failed to comply with a school official's demand of removing her small crucifix chain necklace. Sinfin Community School in Derby has banned students from wearing crucifixes chains, because it is considered jewellery, and is therefore in violation of the school's strict policy that bans jewellery. The Sikh community support Sam Morris' freedom of religious expression and right to wear the crucifix. However, this week the Sikh community and faith have come in the crossfire of the debate on whether school authorities are taking political correctness to a too extreme level, after the girl's mother failed to understand why Sikhs are allowed to wear the Kara and Kirpan, but her daughter wasn't allowed to wear a crucifix.
The girl's mother, Mrs Morris, described her daughter's treatment as "unfair." She said, "Sam has worn this necklace for more than three years and it is of great sentimental value to her. No-one has told her to take it off before and she doesn't want to. She thinks it is very unfair when other people are allowed to wear religious symbols and it just ends up creating a divide between the pupils when everyone is told they should be living in unity."
Deputy head teacher of Sinfin Community School, Mr. Howard Jones said, "There was a long period of persuasion with her and she was given time. It was only at the end of that that I reluctantly had to exclude her for a day." On Tuesday 6th December, the school met with Mrs Morris and readmitted her daughter. According to the school, the strict jewellery prohibition was for the student's safety. The only exceptions were mandatory religious articles of faith, inexpensive watches and small pairs of stud-style earrings.
The Sikh articles of faith, commonly known as the 5Ks, hold religious value and embody a spiritual message, as well as having a practical function. To deem the Kara and Kirpan or any of the articles of faith as merely "religious symbols" highlights ignorance and misinterpretation of the Sikh faith. Furthermore, to compare a crucifix chain to the Sikh articles of faith is an illogical comparison. The Sikh articles of faith are mandatory to wear as part of the Sikh uniform. They are considered as part of a Sikh's body. Just as a person cannot be separated from his or her arm or leg, a Sikh cannot be separated from his or her Kara, Kirpan or other articles of faith. Recognising the significance and reverence of the Sikh articles of faith, the British law safeguards the Sikhs' right to wear the 5Ks, including the Kirpan.
The Daily Express, a British tabloid newspaper, is claiming that it is "crazy" that Sikhs are allowed to wear their "religious symbols" of the Kara and Kirpan, yet a Christian is not allowed to wear her "religious symbol." The Sikh community supports the right of a child to wear something that reminds the individual of their religious values. However, Sikhs have accused the Daily Express as sensationalising the news report and irresponsibly portraying a negatively depicted view of the Sikh articles of faith, in their battle on political correctness and defending Miss Morris' right to wear her religious symbol.
Mr. Jones put forward that, "Most of our students understand allowing Sikhs to wear a bracelet is a compulsory part of their religion. Christianity does not require followers to wear a specific symbol." Furthermore, he said the school policy was "evenhanded and fair".
Meanwhile the Derby City Council has said that it was lawful to ban crucifixes. "But whether it is desirable is another matter. For some people, a crucifix could be a deeply religious gesture, which is why personal needs should be taken into account." John Midgely of 'Campaign Against Political Correctness' said the school have to be "extremely careful not to give the impression that they are undermining one faith while showing favour to another".
Panthic organisations and the Sikh Sangat have shown serious concern and alarm over how the Daily Express has sensationalised the news by the way they have portrayed the Sikh articles of faith in the news article and shown a picture of an unsheathed Kirpan and labelled it as a "dagger." In a complaint letter written to the Daily Express, representatives of London British Sikh Organisation of Sikh Students, wrote, "Reading the article, it is evident that your national newspaper is lacking information on the Sikh Faith and the significance of them, because if you had any accurate information, you would know that comparing a Cross to the Sikh Article of Faiths is poor comparison. As Sikhs we respect all religions, and support Sam Morris' right to wear the small Crucifix. However, despite what the girl's mother said, your newspaper did not have to stir up her statement by describing the Kirpan as a "dagger" and scar-mongering the general public, especially those ignorant of the Sikh faith."
Panthic Weekly emailed the Daily Express on Tuesday evening in regards to the frontpage misrepresentative news article. However, we have not received any response from the tabloid newspaper. Last week, after the Daily Express' sensationalized insulting article about Sikh children being allowed to wear the Kirpan in schools, we received concerns from the Sikh community claiming that an Amritdhari Midlands Sikh student was sent home from school for wearing the Kirpan, as a result of the backlash of the recent news article.
The
