London, UK – With the backing of United Sikhs and Sikh Federation (UK), the human rights group Liberty has filed a legal challenge in the High Court on behalf of 14-year-old Sarika Singh, excluded from her school for wearing a Sikh religious bangle. The High Court will consider the case during the week of 14 January. United Sikhs, an international advocacy charity, will also apply to file a third party intervention.
Sarika Singh was forced to have isolated school lessons for two months and has been excluded from the school in South Wales since 5 November 2007. Liberty will argue that the Aberdare Girl’s School has breached race relations and human rights laws, as well as a 25-year-old Law Lords’ decision which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school.
Anna Fairclough, Liberty’s Legal Officer representing the Singhs, said: “Sarika Singh has suffered humiliating isolation and is being denied a proper education simply because she wears the Kara, a small bangle worn by virtually all Sikhs both in and out of school and work. It is astonishing that the school continues to exclude her despite almost universal condemnation and 25-year-old House of Lords precedent.”
Singh, of mixed Welsh/Punjabi origin, has been brought up in the Sikh faith and is the only Sikh at the Aberdare Girl’s School. The school’s uniform policy prohibits the wearing of any jewelry other than a wrist watch and plain ear studs. When the school noticed that Singh was wearing the religious bangle, she was subsequently isolated throughout the day, including meals, for approximately two months.
“The Kara is an article of faith which a Sikh wears from birth. It reminds a Sikh of his/her duty to lead a righteous life. In our experience, a Sikh child has always been allowed to wear a Kara to school,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, United Sikhs director of International Civil Rights and Human Rights Advocacy.
“We have spoken to Sarika and find her to be a balanced and confident young girl who feels let down by her school. We are very concerned that the very institution that has a duty to provide education to Sarika is undermining her, “she added.
“United Sikhs has instructed Human Rights lawyer, Stephen Grosz of Bindman and Partners, to file a third party intervention on our behalf as proponents of religious freedom,” added Mejindarpal Kaur.
Liberty and United Sikhs will argue that the Aberdare Girls School is violating the Race Relations Act 1976, the Equality Act 2006 and the Human Rights Act 1998. Liberty has requested that Singh be allowed to attend normal lessons at the school while wearing the Kara and that the school amends its uniform policy to comply with the Race Relations Act.
“The Sikh Federation (UK) co-ordinated the campaign to help Sarika by helping the family in dealing with the media, liaising with politicians in Westminster e.g. Rt. Hon. Ann Clywd MP, advising on dealings with the Welsh Assembly and the local council and building up a coalition of support from a range of organizations. The coalition included the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR) to broaden the campaign and the Coalition to defend freedom of religious and cultural expression, “said Jagtar Singh of the Sikh Federation.
“The Coalition is a powerful group made up of political figures e.g. Mayor of London, religious leaders, trade unionists and human rights campaigners, “added Jagtar Singh.
