Video grab
America’s Carolina University Apologizes to Sikh Student Detained for Wearing Kirpan
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 26, 2022:
The University of North Carolina has apologized to Sikh Student detained by the police for wearing Kirpan.
As per the report of The Canadian Parvasi, University chancellor Sharon Gaber apologized on Friday by posting a message on the university’s website, which read, “UNC Charlotte dispatch received a 911 call reporting someone with a knife in the building. Police officers responded to the scene and engaged the individual in question. During this interaction, the individual was placed in handcuffs while officers took possession of the object. The handcuffs were removed after the object was retrieved. Further investigation showed the item was a kirpan, an article of faith in Sikhism.”
It further read, “State law and University policy prohibit the possession of a knife or other edged instruments on campus, but we will use this as a learning opportunity by engaging in constructive dialogue with Sikh students and employees. Together, we are confident we can find reasonable measures and educational opportunities that both protect the safety of our campus and the religious practices of our community members. Our diversity makes us a better, richer, more successful community. We want every Niner to feel welcomed, supported and safe. We apologise that is not what this young man felt in our union yesterday. We are committed to ensuring it doesn’t happen again.”
On September 24, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami had said that the incident of an Amritdhari (initiated) Sikh student at University of North Carolina, Charlotte, USA, being arrested by police from campus for wearing Sikh 'kirpan' and removing his kirpan is highly condemnable.
He said Kirpan is one of five symbols of Sikh faith, and as per the Sikh code of conduct, an Amritdhari Sikh is bound to keep these symbols on his body at all times.
Advocate Dhami said arresting an Amritdhari Sikh student and insulting him in this way, is a major violation of religious rights of Sikhs, for which the US government should take action against culprits.
SGPC President urged India's Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar & Indian Ambassador to USA S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, to look into this matter and ensure that religious sentiments of Sikhs in the USA are not hurt in future.
A video of the incident has been circulating on Social Media Websites where a police officer can be seen trying to take off Kirpan from the Sikh Boy. “You can’t take it off me,” says the Sikh Student.
University chancellor Sharon Gaber apologized on Friday by posting a message on the university’s website, which read, “UNC Charlotte dispatch received a 911 call reporting someone with a knife in the building. Police officers responded to the scene and engaged the individual in question. During this interaction, the individual was placed in handcuffs while officers took possession of the object. The handcuffs were removed after the object was retrieved. Further investigation showed the item was a kirpan, an article of faith in Sikhism.”
It further read, “State law and University policy prohibit the possession of a knife or other edged instruments on campus, but we will use this as a learning opportunity by engaging in constructive dialogue with Sikh students and employees. Together, we are confident we can find reasonable measures and educational opportunities that both protect the safety of our campus and the religious practices of our community members. Our diversity makes us a better, richer, more successful community. We want every Niner to feel welcomed, supported and safe. We apologise that is not what this young man felt in our union yesterday. We are committed to ensuring it doesn’t happen again.”
(Source: The Canadian Pravasi: https://www.canadianparvasi.com/americas-carolina-university-apologizes-to-sikh-student-detained-for-wearing-kirpan/)