The Sikh advantage Sarkozy's visit to vindicate their right to turban

New Delhi, Jan 26, 2008. - The visit to India of President Nicolas Sarkozy has been used by Indian Sikhs to assert their right to wear turban in France, where the garment is banned in schools because of its religious character.
Sarkozy arrived Friday to India on a visit that has served to strengthen military relations, economic and cooperation relations between both countries, but during which there was ample space to discuss the situation of the turban in France.
Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (Sikh religion), as the opposition leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, called on Sarkozy to lift turban restrictions, to which the French president said that there is no "ban" of the garment at home.
"What Sarkozy said is technically correct, but not in practice. Because we take away the Sikh turban and official photographs for us, especially because children can not wear the Sikh turban to school, "he told Efe the president of the organization" Sikh States, "Mejinderpal Kaur.
The ban on wearing turban in schools was imposed by the French authorities in 2004, holding that a religious symbol is incompatible with the principles of secular education.
The law, which also affects the "hijab" or headscarves, Christian crosses or large Jewish star of David, has contorted the Sikh, unwilling to give up an element considered as part of their identity.
Following the ban, the organization "Sikh States" began six judicial proceedings in France, but the judges rejected, and has now decided to go to the European Court of Human Rights and the Human Rights Committee of the UN.
"We have the right to wear turban. We have nothing against France, but our Prime Minister has to do something to change things, "said Kaur.
For Sikhs, this headdress is an indispensable element of identity, related to the prohibition of a haircut ("kesh") governing all his life and is one of the famous five "kas" of their religion.
The approximately ten million Sikhs in the world men must also carry a wooden comb ("kash"), special underpants ("kaccha"), an iron bracelet ("kara") and a sword at his side ("kirpan" .)
"For a Sikh, the turban is removed as running naked in front of strangers, kept Kaur. It's not just a religious sign, as the French say, but a mandatory requirement. Manmohan Singh never takes it off. "
Manmohan, a veteran and respected politician of 75 years, attends international meetings and public events wearing bearded and wearing no exception in its characteristic blue turban.
But according to Kaur, the Sikh religion Manmohan Singh is less decisive than the fact that he is Prime Minister, "is the leader of this country, where there are 19 million Sikhs, and should protect us," he said.
Although France and India are considered "strategic partners" and these days have had time to strengthen their cooperation in various fields, both countries differ in their way of thinking about secularism.
According to the intellectual and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, Indian secularism predominates in the religious neutrality, while the French secularism, more militant, suggests the absence of religion in state activity.
With an eye on Sarkozy's visit, Indian Sikhs, who represent over 90 percent of worldwide followers of that religion, staged several protests against the ban, which in the words of religious practice Kaur becomes a " part-time. "
"The funny thing is that Sarkozy spoke a few months ago at the UN in defense of religious diversity, concluded Kaur. Tell a child to choose between wearing a turban or not is like saying you can choose between being good and not. Them to know: Sikhs do not take off his turban. "

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