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The Sikh Federation (UK) issued a public statement
today to all Sikhs organisations in Panjab that
have been campaigning for the freedom of Sikhs
to wear the dastaar (turban) in France. The statement
urges Sikhs to unite to exert pressure on the
French President, Jacques Chirac who is scheduled
to arrive in Delhi on February 19 for a two-day
visit, the first French president to come to the
country in eight years.
"Sikhs in France continue to experience significant
difficulties with regards to religious freedoms.
The problems that Sikhs are experiencing in France
are not confined to Sikh children in schools,
but also impacting on Sikhs who need basic identity
documents, such as passports and driving licences,
from the French authorities. To obtain such identity
documents Sikhs are being forced to have photographs
taken without the dastaar. This is extremely offensive
to Sikhs, unacceptable and a ridiculous state
of affairs."
"Following pressure by Sikhs in Europe, many
Sikh organisations in Panjab and prominent Sikhs,
not least the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan
Singh, have at various times claimed to have made
progress in convincing the French to remove the
restrictions on Sikhs. Sadly these assurances
have not resulted in any changes for Sikhs in
France."
"Many Sikhs have met with Ambassador Dominique
Girard in Delhi and provided written submissions
over the last two years to find a solution, but
this has not resolved the situation. On many occasions
we have expressed our concerns at the likely success
of those trying to simply negotiate an accommodation
by drawing up specific guidance for schools to
allow the wearing of the dastaar. We have always
maintained this would not secure an adequate safeguard
for Sikhs in France."
"We urge Sikhs in Panjab concerned with the
issue of religious freedoms to unite and exert
maximum pressure on Dr Manmohan Singh to lobby
the French President when he arrives in a week's
time and remind the French Ambassador of assurances
that have been given, but not acted upon. Sikh
parliamentarians also have a role to play as we
are aware that the French President has been invited
to speak to parliamentarians at Vigyan Bhawan."
Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation
(UK) said: "Some have been of the view that
the Indian Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh will resolve this issue. We have expressed
serious doubts regarding the sincerity of the
Indian regime and have to date been proved right.
However, this is an opportunity for Dr Manmohan
Singh to rise to the challenge that has been set.
Will President Chirac during this visit signal
a change of policy as a result of diplomatic pressure
or will Sikhs in France be forced to continue
to suffer. This could have much bigger consequences
as it should be another wake up call to all Sikhs
in the Diaspora that they should never look to
the Indian Government to represent their interests
abroad."
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