B.C. to allow kirpans in the courtroom
B.C. will allow Amritdhari Khalsa Sikhs to wear a kirpan into courthouses starting on April 12.
The small stylized sword is an article of faith that must be worn at all times by Amritdhari Sikhs.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the policy change is being made in response to human rights and Supreme Court of Canada rulings.
"Any person wishing to enter a B.C. courthouse with a Kirpan must inform the sheriff that they are wearing one and identify themselves as an Amritdhari Sikh. There are size restrictions in place for Kirpans allowed in the courtrooms. The Kesh and the Kara must also be available for proof of the person's Khalsa Sikh status, and government-issued photo identification may also be requested," today's (April 10) news release from the ministry states.
Sheriffs will also question kirpan wearers to assess "potential risk factors" and will have the discretion to deny admittance with a kirpan.
The ministry says similar policies are found at the Parliament buildings in Ottawa, the provincial court of Alberta, and Toronto courts.
The government release also states: "The Kirpan symbolizes spiritual wisdom and the duty to stand against injustice. The Khalsa (Amritdhari) Sikh code of conduct requires the Kirpan to be worn at all times with four other articles of faith. The other articles of faith are the Kesh (unshorn hair covered with a turban), Kanga (wooden comb), Kara (iron bracelet), and Kachhera (cotton breeches)."
Comments
3 Comments
DavidH
Apr 10, 2013 at 2:14pm
Injustice is a terrible thing, and standing against it is important.
But standing against injustice with an edged weapon is nothing more than using violence to defeat violence.
And if a Sikh encounters injustice in a courtroom, while armed with a weapon to be wielded against injustice, what then?
Objects specifically designed to inflict injury or worse have no place in our communities or in our courts.
GordH
Apr 10, 2013 at 4:34pm
DavidH's comment is hypocritical: police and sheriffs carry weapons designed to inflict injury or worse yet he has no problem with that? How many citizens have been injured or killed by ceremonial kirpans as compared to those killed or injured by police tasers, batons, and pistols?
DavidH
Apr 10, 2013 at 6:03pm
@ GordH: So, where did I say that police weapons were acceptable? Or did you just make that up?
Also, you failed to answer my question: If a Sikh encounters injustice in a courtroom, while armed with a weapon to be wielded against injustice, what then?
Do police officers shoot people in a courtroom when they perceieve an injustice?
The reality is that you're looking for an excuse - any excuse - to justify what is obviously a ridiculous accommodation for a small religious sect.