Sikhs in France

Sikhs Write to Emmanuel Macron and EU President on India’s Transnational Repression

After US President, Joe Biden turned down an invitation to Republic Day celebrations in India on 26 January following accusations of transnational repression by the Indian state it was reported that the French President, Emmanuel Macron had accepted Narendra Modi’s invitation to be the chief guest of honour.

World Sikh Parliament (WSP) Resolves for Sikh Self Determination During Paris Meet

The organisers of the World Sikh Parliament (WSP) held a gathering of the organisation in Paris, France on September 29 and 30.

Sikh Man who fought Legal Battle Against France’s Turban Ban Returns to Punjab

In March 1991, Ranjit Singh (now 82) left for France in search for better prospects. Twenty-seven years on, he is back in Indian subcontinent, having lost subsistence allowance for refusing to forego his identity as a turbaned Sikh.

Modi Govt. failed to represent Sikh concerns while dealing with France

In a statement issued today, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Mann) president S. Simranjeet Singh Mann said that the Narendra Modi led Indian government has failed to raise the issue of ban on Sikh turban in France.

United Sikhs urges Visiting French President to Reverse the Turban Ban

United Sikhs have once again urged visiting French President Francois Hollande to reverse the turban ban in France.

Sikh Human Rights group raises France Turban issue in UH Human Rights Council

The Sikh Human Rights Group wishes to draw Human Rights Council’s attention to the continuing degrading treatment of Sikh children in schools in France where the State’s inflexible narrow understanding of secularity continues to violate the dignity and self respect of Sikh children.

NGO plans to raise awareness about Sikh identity in France

Paris, France (Oct. 05): A French NGO has announced to hold a function in Paris to make French people, especially the younger generation, aware about the role and sacrifices made by turbaned Sikh soldiers in France's freedom struggle.

Pressure mounts on France against ban on Sikh Dastars/turbans

Paris, France (October 11, 2013): The recent decision of United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) holding the requirement that Sikh men remove their turban before having a passport photograph taken in France is a threat to religious freedom is a major victory for Sikh diaspora regarding turban ban by French authorities. This decision is believed to mount pressure on French authorities to recognize and allow the Sikhs to wear the turban/dastar freely.

Sikhs should lobby with governments to ensure that France implements Turban decision of UNHRC: Sikh Federation (UK)

London, United Sikhs (October 09, 2013): The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has now ruled on three separate occasions in the last three years in favour of Sikhs to wear their turbans in France.

Sikhs win Turban Case against France at the United Nations

Paris, France (October 08, 2013): It is learnt that the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) concluded that France has violated the religious freedom of 57 year old Shingara Mann Singh when he was asked to remove his turban for his passport photograph.

Opposing death sentence to Prof. Bhullar, 3 Sikhs go on 11 day hunger strike in Paris

Paris, France (May 15, 2013): It is learnt that amid various protests by Sikhs in the UK, France and India against the death sentence to Sikh political prisoner Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, three Sikhs of France have been sitting on hunger strike since May 8 at a Paris Gurdwara.

Sikhs ask Canadian PM to raise issue of Turban Ban in France at meeting with French PM

Toronto, Canada (March 14, 2013): As per information an NGO, United Sikhs has written to the Canadian Prime Minister earlier this week asking him to raise his objection to the turban ban in France, during his meeting with his French counterpart, who is currently visiting Canada.

Sikhs held peaceful protest & submit memorandum to French President Hollande in New Delhi (India)

New Delhi, India (February 18, 2013): It is learnt that the Sikhs held a peaceful protest outside the French Embassy in New Delhi on February 14, 2013 against the ongoing French turban. This was followed by the submission of a memorandum on the Turban issue addressed to French President Francois Hollande, who was on a trade visit to India.

An Open Letter to The President of France – by Mallika Kaur

For a Sikh it is obviously impossible to hide his turban. Yet you claim that your law is the same for everybody. This oxymoron -- "it's not same for Sikhs, but it is same for everyone" -- was the utterance of a French government spokesperson reportedly defending the decision to not lift the ban, despite the United Nations 2012 finding that France's ban violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Indian PM failed to raise Sikh turban issue with visiting French President

New Delhi/ Ludhaina, India/ Punjab (February 17, 2013): “Fussy to prove his secular credentials beyond unreasonable extent India’s first Sikh Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has once again disappointed his community by avoiding to raise the turban issue with the visiting French President H.E Francois Hollande”.

Sikhs Win School Turban Ban Case Against France in the United Nations Human Rights Committee

Paris, France, 14 Dec 2012 – The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that France's ban on the wearing of "conspicuous" religious symbols in schools - introduced in a law adopted in March 2004 - violated a Sikh student's right to manifest his religion, protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In a decision that was sent out this week to the United Sikhs legal team, in relation to a complaint made by Bikramjit Singh in 2008, the Committee accepted that the wearing of a turban is regarded as a religious duty for a Sikh and is also tied in with his identity; and that France had not justified the prohibition on the wearing of the turban.

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

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.

SAD (Amritsar) leaders raised Sikh issues with local French authorities

According to information sent by S. Chain Singh from France Mr Didier Mignot, Left Front Party Mayor of Le Blanc Mesnil, was invited to meet Sikh Community during a dinner at Bhai Parmjit Singh Sohal' House. it was the opportunity for the French Sikh community to share their difficulties and their concern about the respect of Sikh identity in French society.