Sikh Identity

Sikh Coalition invited back to New York Police Department for new officer training

New York, NY (July 15, 2013): The Sikh Coalition was reportedly invited back to the New York City Police Academy on June 24, 2013 to train its newest graduating class of police officers. This was the third time the Sikh Coalition has been invited to participate in the officer training. The Sikh Coalition had previously visited the Academy to present information about Sikhs in 2011 and 2012.

Sikh Identity Petition: Supreme Court of India issue notice to Law Ministry

New Delhi, India (July 05, 2013): It is learnt that the Supreme Court of India has told the Government of India (GOI) to file a reply on a petition seeking removal of an explanation to a provision in Indian Constitution that treats “Sikhs”, “Jains” and “Buddhists” as “Hindus” for all legal purposes.

Sacramento Sikh Couple harrased by security of AMC Theatre

Emeryville, California, USA (June 24, 2013): “Harassed. Insulted. Embarrassed and humiliated are just few words to express how a Sikh couple felt after trying to have a fun night out at the movies. Like fellow Americans, a Sikh gentleman, Mr. Manjot Singh, took his wife out to the movies on a Saturday evening” reads a news letter issued by a US based NGO – United Sikhs.

UK Parliamentarians held debate on issues concerning Sikhs in UK and Europe

London, England (March 15, 2013): It is learnt that a debate was held in UK's Parliament on March 13, 2013 concerning issues related to the Sikh community in UK and the Europe including the issue of Sikh identity and Dastar.

Sikhs ask Canadian PM to raise issue of Turban Ban in France at meeting with French PM

Toronto, Canada (March 14, 2013): As per information an NGO, United Sikhs has written to the Canadian Prime Minister earlier this week asking him to raise his objection to the turban ban in France, during his meeting with his French counterpart, who is currently visiting Canada.

Sikhs held peaceful protest & submit memorandum to French President Hollande in New Delhi (India)

New Delhi, India (February 18, 2013): It is learnt that the Sikhs held a peaceful protest outside the French Embassy in New Delhi on February 14, 2013 against the ongoing French turban. This was followed by the submission of a memorandum on the Turban issue addressed to French President Francois Hollande, who was on a trade visit to India.

Proud to be a Sikh, an upcoming film to focus on Sikh identity & youth

Ludhiana, Punjab (February 12, 2013): It is learnt that "Proud to be Sikh" is an upcoming movie that is is based on the life of a gursikh professor who comes to India with lots of aspirations and feelings for his heritage and culture, as he had to leave the country during 1984. 

Arizona: Sikh Officer Ikhbinder Singh Bassin maintains job with articles of faith intact

Arizona, US (February 6, 2013): In a recent release the Sikh Coalition has welcomed the decision of the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) to accommodate Corrections Officer Ikhbinder S. Bassin’s Sikh articles of faith, including his unshorn beard and kara.

Badal Dal to implement amendments version of Nanakshahi Sikh Calendar in DSGMC

Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab (February 04, 2013): As per certain media reports Manjit Singh GK, President of Delhi unit of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) said that “changed” Nanakshahi calendar would be implemented in Gurdwaras of Delhi now. It is notable that a Sikh calendar named Nanakshahi calendar was adopted by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) in 2003.

Understanding the Kirpan (by World Sikh Organization of Canada)

The Sikh religion is the youngest of the five major world religions. It originated in northern India in the late 1400s, with its founder, Guru Nanak who was a spiritual teacher and social reformer. He directed people to meditate daily (nam japna), work hard (kirat karna), and share their earnings with others without discrimination (vand shakna). These three enjoinders have become the pillars of Sikh society.

Sikh Kirpan to be accommodated at Alberta courthouses

Calgary (January 25, 2013): The World Sikh Organization of Canada has worked with the Government of Alberta and Alberta Human Rights Commission to develop accommodation guidelines for the kirpan in Alberta courthouses.

Settlement reached in Sikh Beard-Limousine Case after intervention of World Sikh Organization

Toronto, Canada (January 17, 2013): As per information available with Sikh Siaysat News (SSN) a human rights case that was to go before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), involving the right of a Sikh limousine driver to maintain abeard, has settled.

Sikhs Win School Turban Ban Case Against France in the United Nations Human Rights Committee

Paris, France, 14 Dec 2012 – The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that France's ban on the wearing of "conspicuous" religious symbols in schools - introduced in 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). In a decision that was sent out this week to the United Sikhs legal team, in relation to a complaint made by Bikramjit Singh in 2008, the Committee accepted that the wearing of a turban is regarded as a religious duty for a Sikh and is also tied in with his identity; and that France had not justified the prohibition on the wearing of the turban.

Son of Sardar, Bollywood, Sikhs and the Controversies

Controversy surrounding Ajay Devgn's seems to have settled in a way that could be termed as suitable to the situation, though the anger among certain Sikh circles is still visible.

Whether inclusion of Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists under exclusive Hindu Code enactments violate Freedom of Religion: SCI

New Delhi/Ludhiana, India/Punjab (November 13, 2012): According to media reports the Supreme Court of India (SCI) has entertained the petition, that may be called “the Sikh identity” petition as it seeks judicial intervention against clubbing of Sikh identity with Hindus through provisions of Indian Constitution and definition of Hindu in Hindu Personal Law code.

Supreme Court of India issued notice to Centre on “Sikh Identity” petition

New Delhi/Chandigarh (October 26, 2012): It is learnt the Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Centre (Government of India) to file its response within 6 weeks on a petition raising plea for “separate and distinct” Sikh identity in “personal laws” viz laws relating to marriage and divorce, succession, adoption and maintenance and guardianship.

Balpreet Kaur: Embodiment of Truth, Goodness, & Beauty – An Inspiration for one and all

Recent incident involving Ohio State University student Balpreet Kaur, who became the subject of the mockery on a social media site, has drawn my attention to the uncanny nature of humans.

California Law Bars Discrimination Against Sikhs, Muslims

Ludhiana (September 16, 2012): California Governor Jerry Brown, on September 08, 2012 signed two bills aimed at battling workplace discrimination against Sikhs and Muslim by shunting workers wearing turbans, beards and hijabs to backroom jobs out of public view.

Issue whip to support the bill to amend Article 25 of Indian Constitution: Peer Mohammad urge Indian PM

Chandigarh (September 6, 2012): All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) demanded that PM Manmohan Singh should ensure support of UPA to the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2012 to amend the notorious Article 25 of the constitution, which is coming up before the Parliament. The private bill proposed by Dr. Ratan Singh Ajnala, MP, seeks to drop Explanation II in Article 25, which defines Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism as components of the Hindu religion.

“Amend Article 25 of India Constitution”: AISSF (Peermohammad)

Srinagar (August 18, 2012): All India Sikh Students Federation (Peermohammad) declared that only demand and goal of Sikh community should be amendment of Article 25 of the Indian constitution which usurps the separate identity of Sikhism. Karnail Singh Peermohammad, President AISSF (Peermohammad) attended the national level ethnic conference in Srinagar in which he raised the demand of Separate status of Sikhism as religion in India.

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