What A Kara On: Sarika Watkins-Singh Wins
SARIKA Watkins-Singh, aged 14, was reprimanded for breaking the “no jewellery” rule at Aberdare Girls’ School in South Wales. Although, in the interests of consistency, wristwatches and ear studs are permitted.
Sarika is a Sikh, and argued that her wrist bangle is central to her faith. She claimed to be the victim of unlawful discrimination. The matter went to court.
In court, Sarika’s lawyers say wearing the slim steel bracelet is as important to their client as it was to the England cricketer Monty Panesar. Mr Panesar has never attended a girls’ school in Wales, at least to the best of our knowledge.
Mr Justice Silber considers the evidence and rules that the bangle - known as the kara - is a symbol of her Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery.
He says that the school is guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws. There is much smiling and jangling of jewellery.
But what does it mean when God is allowed to encroach on schooling?
There are just six Sikhs at Sarika’s school. And one wonders if they now too must wear the kara to school to show that they are true believers?
Note: Sarika was backed by her family and not by a group of religious nutters.
Sakira is not Shabina Begum, then 16, who wanted to cover up 99 per cent of her body at Denbigh high school. Begum wanted to show commitment to her beliefs, something that would also show the institution’s other female Muslim students that she was more of a believer then them.
Begum was backed by Hizb ut-Tahrir, the organisation founded by mad-mullah, the Tottenham Taliban, the wire-bearded gurning loon called Omar Bakri Mohammed. Begum won her case. Then lost it on appeal.
Sarika can wear her bracelet under her uniform.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
If I hear one more person say ‘I hope no-one else has to go through what I have been through; I didn’t do it just for myself I did for all………………. everywhere’, then I shall scweem and scweem until I’m sick.
Enough already.
It’s not about religion, its about proving a point every time. it really means ‘I can do whatever I like and you can’t stop me’.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
well my religion means I have to wear a cape and black pointy hat at all times. D’you think I’d get away with it? HAHAhahaha!! (that was a cackle by the way)
July 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Thank you, sammy J!
I keep telling them we need a cackling icon, but you just can’t get the help these days…
July 29th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Can I bring my athame ?
July 29th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I have just seen Sarika on Euronews.
She seems like a nice, well-balanced, integrated, manipulated girl…
July 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
For gods sake(pardon the pun) let the girl were he bloody bracelet and give us all a break. Doesn’t the head teacher have more to worry about than obsessing about this. OK she would have to allow crucifixes as well but who cares. I know we have to draw the line some where (Hindu funeral pyres on on the Thames embankment may be slightly over the line) but live and let live people.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
As an Indian and as a Sikh, I am disappointed with the behavior of this Sikh girl. ( Actually her parents – as she is just a kid ) I request you NOT to give in to these religious demands made from time to time by certain people. Perhaps you can use some defense from what I write to support your cause.
Immigration to the UK by Sikhs - There are Sikhs lined up and waiting desperately to immigrate to your country. A young Sikh man who is wasting his life in his farm in Punjab without money, job, future or real happiness will be willing to cut off his entire left arm in return to get an opportunity to immigrate to a White Country. But once they get a second life, some of these same Sikhs who were ready to cut their left arm don’t want to cut their religious symbols in Public places.
My main point is not support for Whites, or to criticize my religion, my main point is that selfish [EDIT] people [EDIT] in my community do not realize that this behavior is only spoiling the prospects of other needy Sikhs the opportunity to immigrate to the UK .
Desire to keep the 5 k’s. – Almost every Sikh breaks these religious laws. Of the 5 K’s the Kesh ( hair and beard, eyebrows, body hair ) is shorn by a massive ( maybe 99 %, yes 99 % ) majority of the young Sikhs, weather they are in the UK or the fields of Punjab . Even the Sikhs who keep the hair will reject 3 other physical symbols. For convenience sake - without batting an eyelid. Ask a typically foolish and religious Sikh, - if you take so much trouble over maintaining your hair at the right length, do you keep ‘the Kacha’ ( large undergarment / drawers ) or do you wear a Calvein Klein brand of underwear. Do you keep ‘the Kanga’ ( comb ) of the right length or only a miniature Kanga – for convenience sake ? The ‘Kara’ is convenient so almost everyone ( including I ) wear it.
Desire to maintain identity – Strictly my viewpoint, and it can be rejected but I have seen in India that those Sikhs who have very little achievements to their credit, try to attract attention to themselves and pump up their fragile egos by this display of religious identity ( again – only Kesh and Kara ) by saying – “look I am a true blue Sikh, I am better than you. You cannot achieve this.
Refusal to reciprocate to decency. – Sikhs refuse to understand that they have a very good life in the UK . The British are basically good hosts. Do the Sikhs realize how their fellowmen are treated in the Gulf, were treated in Uganda , or would be treated if they made demands in say – China ?
A rule is a rule. If the Sikh cannot obey the rule, buy him a one way ticket. See how quickly the [EDIT] person [EDIT] will come to his / her senses. The problem is also in British society, by being politically correct to the point of being apologetic, and by giving in to a few fanatics. It is the British only who are creating a situation where they will have to continuously satisfy the demands of fools and ingrates.
Edited by Carmen 02.08