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Turban Ban in French Schools: United Sikhs to hold media conference to announce decision of UNHRC

December 14, 2012 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

France (December 13, 2012): According to information available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) the United Sikhs, a NGO, will hold a media conference at Paris, France on Friday 14th Dec 2012 to announce the UN decision in a case brought by United Sikhs lawyers for Bikramjit Singh who was expelled from school in 2004 when France introduced a law that banned religious signs in public schools, including the Sikh turban.

In 2008, United Sikhs lawyers filed a case before the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) on grounds that France had violated, inter alia, the religious freedom of a 17 year old Sikh student, Bikramjit Singh, by expelling him from school, following the passing of the law that banned religious signs in public schools in 2004. The UNHRC has taken a final decision which will be announced at the media conference.

The proponents of freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the Sikh community in particular have waited four years for the UNHRC’s decision, nine years after the law banning religious signs was passed by France. The decision of the UN Human Rights Committee is significant to Sikhs who regard the Turban as an integral part of their being. A Turban wearing Sikh never removes his Turban.

The media conference will give you an opportunity to pose questions to our lawyers and our client, Bikramjit Singh, whose religious rights were violated by France’s law that banned the wearing of the turban in school that led to his expulsion.

Interview opportunities will include: Bikramjit Singh and Mejindarpal Kaur, Legal Director, United Sikhs.

Venue: Le Rialto
59 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, 
75016 Paris, France

Time: 3.00 – 5:00pm

Date: 14th December 2012

Programme:

Time & Event:

2.30–2.45 pm Registration of Media representatives and Refreshments

2:45 –3 pm Film – “Fighting For My Crown”

3 – 3.10 pm Briefing by United Sikhs Legal Director, Mejindarpal Kaur

3.10 – 3.20 pm Statement by United Sikhs lawyers who filed the UN case

3:20- 3.25 pm Statement from Bikramjit Singh who was expelled from school for wearing a turban in 2004

3:25 – 4:00 pm Media Q&A

4:00 – 4:10 pm Vote of Thanks by Shingara Singh, United Sikhs Director.

4:10 – 5:00 pm Media Interviews.

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Related Topics: Sikh Turban, Sikhs in France, Turban Issue, United Sikhs

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