Battle Over Kirpan Rages for Sikh Youth

April 30, 2005

Source: Hindustan Times

Wire Service: PTI

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_1343020,00160006.htm

On April 30, 2005 the Press Trust of India reported, "A young Sikh in Denmark, who was once paid by authorities there to give lessons on Sikh culture and history to school students in the country, today finds himself fighting the court battles for refusing to part with his Kirpan, a religious symbol sacrosanct for all baptised Sikhs. 'We have decided to go in for appeal in a higher court after a Court in Copenhagen recently fined my son 3,000 kroners (about Rs 24,000) for carrying a Kirpan,' says Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba, father of Ripudaman Singh who is currently pursuing his PhD in Human Genetics from University of Aarhus in Denmark. Ripudaman had on May 24 last year visited the US Embassy in Copenhagen where the local police arrested him for carrying a Kirpan with a length more than the permissible limit (2.5 inch). The security staff confronted Ripudaman saying he should have confessed that he was in possession of a 'knife.' Danish Law prohibits carrying a knife or dagger in public places unless it is part of occupational conduct."