A proposed ban on visible religious symbols in schools in France has evoked a lot of interest among the readers, since turban-wearing boys could also be affected when this ban is enforced. This special section has been created to collate developments and information on the issue.
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 Mann
gets French reply on turban issue
Chandigarh, March 23
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
president Simranjit Singh Mann has received a reply from French Foreign
Minister Dominique de Villepin on the turban issue that he had raised
with him. Mr Villepin informed that the “law project on turban will
not be in effect until the following school season in September and
hence this time should be used in removing all kinds of
misunderstanding”.
 Sikhs
protest against French ban
London, February 21
British Sikhs today protested in
front of the French Embassy at Knightsbridge here against the planned
ban on religious symbols in state-run schools in France. The huge
protest was a show of solidarity with the French Sikhs. Among those
protesting were Sikh veterans of World War II who fought for France
wearing turbans. The demonstration was jointly organised by the Akhand
Kirtani Jatha (AKJ), UK and the British Sikh Council. Mr Jagroop Singh
of the AKJ said Labour MPs John McDonnell, Bob Ainsworth, and Fiona
MacTaggart were expected to join the protest.
Young Sikhs demonstrate against the French government's planned ban on
students wearing headscarves and all other overt religious symbols in
state schools, near the French Embassy in London on Saturday. —
Reuters photo
France
may compromise on turban issue
New Delhi, February
13
Faced with a storm of protest
from Sikhs, France today indicated early redressal of their
grievances regarding sanctions on the turban as part of the
anti-veil law. “We need to solve this (the Sikh) problem,”
visiting Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters
immediately after his meeting with Union Minister Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa and National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan
Singh at a hotel to exclusively discuss the turban issue. |
French Foreign Minister Dominique
de Villepin with (from left) SGPC General Secretary S.S. Bhaur,
Union Minister S.S. Dhindsa and Mr Tarlochan Singh in New Delhi on
Friday. — PTI |
Sikh
children demonstrate against ban on turban
Amritsar,
February 12
Sikh children wearing
traditional saffron and blue ‘dastars’ (turbans) held a
demonstration at the entrance of the Golden Temple protesting
against the “turban ban” in primary schools of France. The
demonstration was organised today under the aegis of Culture
and Heritage Conservation Initiative” (CHCI) and Sikh
organisations to mark and coincide with the visit of French
Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to India. |
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| Sikh children
hold a demonstration against the ban on turban in France, near
the Golden Temple in Amritsar, on Thursday. The protest
coincides with the visit of French Foreign Minister Dominique de
Villepin to India. — Photo by Rajiv Sharma |
Sinha
to take up turban issue with French minister
New Delhi, February 12
The proposed French ban on wearing
ostensible religious symbols in public schools has been listed on the
agenda of the talks between visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique
de Villepin and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.
French
Minister’s assurance on turban
Amritsar, February 10
French Foreign Minister has given
an assurance to a delegation of Sikhs that the ban on turban would be
looked into. Mr Chain Singh, president of Singh Sabha Gurdwara in
France and senior leader of the SAD (Amritsar) stated today after
arrival from France.
French
lower House votes to ban head scarves
Paris, February 10
France’s lower House of parliament today voted overwhelmingly to ban
students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel
in public schools.
Ban
on religious symbols will apply to schools only: French Ambassador
by Tripti Nath
Soon
after his posting to India in 2002 as Ambassador of France, Mr
Dominique Girard got busy with the visit of French Prime Minister Jean
Pierre Raffarin. The little that he has seen of India right from
Amritsar, Chandigarh and Varanasi in the North to Chennai and
Thiruvanthapuram in the South, he has found its cultural diversity
fascinating.
SGPC
writes to French President on turban
Amritsar, February 8
SGPC secretary Manjit Singh
Calcutta has urged the French President to withdraw legislation
banning wearing of turban by Sikhs. The secretary said that in the
case of Sikhs, turban is unique compared to other religions.
Tarlochan
seeks meeting with French minister
New Delhi, February 7
National Commission for Minorities Chairperson Tarlochan Singh has
made a formal request for a meeting with French Minister of Foreign
Affairs Dominique de Villepin during the latter's visit to India in
the coming week.
Tohra
writes to Annan on turban issue
Amritsar,
February 4
Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC president, today urged
Secretary-General UNO Kofi Annan to issue an advisory note to all
countries with special reference to France to treat Sikhs as religious
and cultural minority and therefore guarantee all facilities under its
declarations to protect their religious beliefs.
Sikh
Forum submits memo to French envoy on turban issue
New Delhi,
February 4
The Sikh Forum and the Sikh Core Group Delhi Chapter has submitted a
memorandum on ‘Turban as a basic religious value for Sikhs’ to the
Ambassador of France in India.
Mann
presents memorandum on turban issue
Phagwara, February 3
SAD (A) President and MP
Simranjit Singh Mann submitted a two-page memorandum to Mr Dominique
Dedvilletin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of France, on
January 29 on the turban issue during his visit to Paris.
Turban
ban issue raised in Lok Sabha
New Delhi, February 3
A senior Congress member today sought the intervention of the Indian
Government in the wake of reports that France had banned Sikh students
from wearing turbans.
Bishop
of Paris to take up turban issue
Patiala, February 2
National Minorities Commission
Chairman Tarlochan Singh today said the turban row in Paris was likely
to be resolved soon with the Bishop of Paris set to taking up the
issue with the French government.
Blunkett
to discuss Sikh identity issue with French Government
Amritsar, February 1
The British Home Secretary, Mr
David Blunkett, here today said that he would take up the Sikh
identity issue with the French Government.
Europe
Sikhs hold protest
Paris, January 31
A Paris boulevard became a sea of
coloured turbans today as Sikhs from across Europe marched to defend
their traditional headgear against a looming French ban on religious
symbols in state schools.
Pope
supports Sikhs on turban issue
Chandigarh, January 30
The government cannot be an
arbiter in any religious matter. Rather it should respect the dignity
of the human person and of his inalienable rights among which his
right to adhere, practise and propagate his religion is fundamental.
French
Sikhs upbeat about turbans
Paris, January 22
France's small Sikh community
grew confident yesterday as its boys could continue to wear turbans to
state schools after talks with officials to explain their headgear was
not a religious symbol taboo under a looming ban.
Move
to ban the turban in France
An open letter to French President Jacques Chirac
Your excellency, President Chirac
AS one of the 25 million Sikhs worldwide, and as a soldier-writer who
from time to time centrestages issues concerning his community in
India, I would wish you to kindly reconsider the proposed legislation
banning the turban in government schools and offices in your country.
Contentious
coverings
France in flux over move to ban
scarves
THE
recent move, endorsed by the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, to ban
the wearing of religious symbols in state schools has managed to unite
the minorities there.
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