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Kara girl Sarika Singh attends different school
MP says school banning kara can't win court case
WSN Network

London: Sarika Singh, the 14-year-old Sikh girl who insisted on not parting with her 'kara', an integral part of being a practicing Sikh, and was therefore excluded from attending her school in Wales since November 2007 has now been allowed to attend another school pending a court ruling.

In another significant development, Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd, has called on governors at the Aberdare Girls School, which had asked Sarika not to wear the kara, not to waste public money in fighting a case (to ban the kara) they cannot win.

Sarika Singh was told by her Aberdare Girls Comprehensive School, Wales that she cannot wear the kara as that was a part of jewellery, banned by the school. Leading human right organisation Liberty is backing the case which is awaiting hearing in the High Court in London.

Now, Sarika has been allowed to attend another school within the same Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Education Authority area.

The Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: "Sarika Singh is attending Mountain Ash Comprehensive School pending the outcome of a High Court case. The school say they are happy for her to wear the Kada."

MP Ann Clwyd said, "The advice I have received from fellow MPs, the Sikh Association and Liberty, is that Sarika will win her case. There are legal precedents establishing a Sikh pupils right to wear those items that are essential to their religion. Boys, for example, have been allowed to continue to wear turbans, following court cases and there is no reason to believe that the courts ruling will be any different in Sarika's case".

Anna Fairclough, Libertys legal officer, said: "Nothing less than our traditions of religious freedom and racial tolerance are on trial in this case. Individuals from any religion who wish to modesty express their faith should not be denied a proper education, as Ms Singh has." Singh went to India in 2005 with her Indian-origin mother, Sanita, and was impressed by the Sikh religion during her visit to Amritsar. Since then she has insisted on wearing the Sikh religious symbol of 'kara'.

Singh said: "We went to quite a lot of places during my visit to India, including the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was just amazing. I became very interested in Sikh history and was inspired to follow the religion."

"The kada is a very important Sikh symbol and a constant reminder to me to do good, and that God is One. I am very disappointed that my school does not recognise my right to wear the kada".

12 March 2008
 

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