California (November 05, 2012): According to reports a Southern California school district has allowed Sikh students to wear the Kirpan in school. It is learnt that at least three high school students in the Jurupa Unified School District will be allowed to wear the approximately 2-inch Kirpan at school after ensuring certain safety measures.
The Kirpan is one of five sacred articles that an Amritdhari Sikh is required to carry.
“This is an issue of religious freedom and of faith,” Mary Burns, the district’s longest-serving school board member is reported to have said. “Who am I to deny what is an article of faith of a 600-year-old religion?”