French Sikhs Threaten To Leave Country

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 1-23-2004 | Jon Henley

[blam]

French Sikhs threaten to leave country

Jon Henley in Paris
Friday January 23, 2004
The Guardian (UK)

Last month, France barely knew its Sikh community existed. Next month, it may not exist: Sikhs have said they may leave if they are forced, under a planned ban on religious symbols in state institutions, to remove their turbans. "We cannot take them off," said Jasdev Singh Rai, a negotiator sent by the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikhs' holiest shrine, to do battle with Paris officials. Many Sikhs may rather go than "live among intolerant people", he said.

A 5,000-strong Sikh community has been living in the northern Paris suburbs, near the Gurdwara Sahib temple in Bobigny, for many decades.

Chain Singh, a leader of the temple, said the community had been "completely overlooked" during the drafting of the ban, which is intended to stem the rising impact of radical Islam on France's secular republic.

The law would ban all "conspicuous" symbols of faith - including Muslim veils, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses and even, if they are considered signs of religious affiliation, beards and bandanas - from all state institutions, starting in September.

Mr Singh said that Sikhs in many countries were allowed to wear turbans in armies and police forces. In the UK and Germany, they could ride motorbikes without helmets.

French Sikhs argue the ban should not apply to turbans. They say they are a practical covering for the hair, which their religion bars them from cutting. The turban, they say, is therefore just a cultural symbol, rather than a religious one. In turn, the most ardent supporters of the ban say that if the turban is merely cultural, then Sikhs are not obliged to wear it.

The Sikh community in France - many of whom have no ID cards because identity photographs must be taken bare-headed - has organised a petition and a protest march in Paris on January 31.

Mr Rai said he had held "encouraging" talks with officials in the foreign, interior and education ministries.

"They realise they are in very muddy waters," he said. "We are being pigeonholed into categories we don't fit in."

Officials, however, say the government is "very nervous" about making exceptions. The education minister, Luc Ferry, has even suggested that Sikhs may wear "invisible" turbans, or hair nets. A Sikh community spokesman responded that France, the home of haute couture, must be able to find a solution acceptable to all.

[Dog]

France really screwed up...

[RWR8189]

As long they don't move here.......

[Samurai_Jack]

"Sikhs have said they may leave..."

Dont let the door hit ya where Allah Split ya!

[maestro]

They would be welcome in Mecca.

/sarcasm

[demnomo]

Sikhs are NOT Muslims, folks. An innocent Sihk was murdered here in the good old US of A by a jerk who thought anyone in a turban was fair game after 9/11.

Sikhs believe in a monolethic god akin to Zorastrians.

Now, if only the French Muslims would return from whence they came...

[demnomo]

Ooops, meant to spell monolithic, NOT monolethic...

[Arpege92]

"As long as they don't move here...."

LOL

[Tacis]

SURE THEY WILL!!!

[Pikamax]

sikhs are good people

[ARA]

Thanks for educating the knee jerk arrogants that post here. They are the ones who give Free Republic a bad reputation.

ARA

[demnomo]

Right you are. Sihks come from India and have served Western governments like Britain with honor and distinction.

[RonF]

Wrong twice, then, I think. I believe what you want is "monotheistic".

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Sikhs are NOT Muslims, folks. An innocent Sihk was murdered here in the good old US of A by a jerk who thought anyone in a turban was fair game after 9/11."

We can be thankful only that incident and one other (that I recall) happened, the rarity of which does credit to our nation.

However, I thought that we had another story posted here that the true motive turned out to be a failed robbery attempt by a ex-con who had a history of armed robbery. Is that not true?

[demnomo]

LOL! You're quite right. However, I know I'm right about the Sihks. :)

[sport]

I would say that I cared if they left, but, I would be lying.

[It's me]

Exactly my thoughts!!!

[demnomo]

Ooops, I mean Sikhs! I'm typing way too fast

[demnomo]

Don't remember that angle of the story. Maybe some other FReeper can enlighten us.

[uglybiker]

Why not?