The Indians Abroad

California satae legislature passes the ‘Kirpan bill’ to support Sikhs dress code

Most of us -from India or those of Indian origin- need no introduction to ‘kirpan’. It is a small blade that resembles a sword in shape, and is carried in a shoulder strap. It is one of the Sikh articles of faith, or a religious symbol that Sikhs wear after baptism. Over the years, many Sikhs have been questioned and arrested overseas for carrying a kirpan. The police, for example in USA, can compare the kirpan to carrying a concealed weapon if they don’t know the Sikh tradition.

In an effort to recognize the Sikh dress-code, the Californian state legislature unanimously passed a bill to train law enforcement personnel about Sikhs and the religious significance of ‘kirpans’.

Summary and the excerpts from the bill:

“SUMMARY:Requires the Commission on Peace Office Standards and Training (CPOST) to create and make available to all law enforcement agencies a training component on how to recognize and interact with a person carrying a “kirpan”.

Excerpts from the Bill:

“Sikh Americans form a vibrant, peaceful, and law-abiding part of the United States community. California was one of the first places that Sikhs settled in this country over 100 years ago. Today, California is home to a large number of the Nation’s 500,000 Sikhs….”

“Sikhs are mandated by their religion to keep five articles of faith on, or as part of, their person at all times. These articles of faith are physical manifestations and reminders of core Sikh spiritual values which include honesty, remembering God, and providing service to humanity….”

“A kirpan is a religious article resembling a sword, which is integral to the practice of the Sikh faith. The kirpan is carried in a shoulder strap known as a ‘gatra’, as mandated by the Sikh Code of Conduct. The kirpan acts as a constant reminder to its bearer of a Sikh’s solemn duty to protect the weak and promote justice for all. The kirpan is also an allusion to spiritual knowledge that “cuts through ignorance and sin….”

“In the years since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Sikhs have experienced an unprecedented increase in arrests for carrying kirpans….”

“….In each case (related to arrests made for carrying Kirpan…), prosecutors have either agreed not to bring charges or a judge has dismissed the case because they recognized the religious significance of-and benign intent in carrying the kirpan….”

“…when law enforcement agents arrest or detain individuals for carrying the kirpan (when its possession is in accordance with the Sikh faith), they unnecessarily burden state and local resources, not to mention humiliate Sikhs whose carrying of the kirpan has no criminal intent…”

Next Step:

The bill now goes to the California Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature. Once signed, it will become a part of the California law.

As you can see, the key intent of the bill is to raise awareness among the law enforcement authorities, and to train them to avoid useless arrests of law abiding Sikh individuals.

The chief of Akal Takht in Punjab, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, welcome the bill and praised the state of California for the historic move.

PS: See the latest development on the Sikh Kirpan bill on this follow-up article. The outcome is much different than expected.

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