Sikhs appeal Swaraj to take up ban on turban with French President

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: A delegation of Sikh leaders of BJP called on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj here today and appealed her to raise the issue regarding ban of turbans in schools in France during her meeting with the French President, François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande.
The delegation which was led by R P Singh, Member National Executive BJP and Co-incharge J&K told Mrs Swaraj that apart from being well versed with the Sikh religion and history, she has always been committed to and championed the Sikh cause. It while expressing concern over ban on use of turban by members of Sikh community in France said, the turban is not merely a religious symbol but it is a mandatory article of faith, an article which very much defines the core identity of a Sikh. It is a necessity for a Sikh to maintain unshorn hair. Hence the Turban becomes an inextricable part of a Sikhs appearance and not just a fashionable accoutrement, it added.
It said the fact is that over the generations, turban has become the symbol of pride for the Sikhs is because of the exemplary manner the community has stood up and fought gallantly for righteous causes in various phases of world history. 
Recalling the shared history of Sikhs with France the delegation said many turbaned Sikh soldiers fought and died for the freedom of France in World War I and World War-II specially at Neuve Chapelle. The French consciousness is therefore not unfamiliar with the Sikh attire and appearance and of the fact that the Turban is the most recognizable feature of a Sikh. Unlike other head gears, it is an inextricable part of the Sikh identity.
It said recently UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that France’s ban on the wearing of “conspicuous” religious symbols in schools – introduced by a law adopted in March 2004 – violated a Sikh student’s right to manifest his religion, protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Keeping the religious sanctity of turban in mind the delegation urged Mrs Swaraj to request the French President to expeditiously repeal the law that bans the wearing of the turban in schools and on ID photographs so that French Sikhs, too, may enjoy their religious freedom in modern and pragmatic France that recognizes multiculturalism and diversity or risk an all pervasive Sikh alienation.