Quebec Bans Sikh Daggers From Capitol

By Ron Csillag
Religion News Service

TORONTO (RNS) Lawmakers in the province of Quebec voted unanimously on Wednesday (Feb. 9) to ban the kirpan, a Sikh ceremonial dagger, from the legislature building.

The opposition Parti Quebecois said it was acting to underscore Quebec's neutrality in dealing with religious groups, while the governing Liberal Party argued that the ban is needed for security reasons.

The vote came a month after four Sikh men who were invited to testify before lawmakers were barred from entering the building because they were carrying kirpans.

Louise Beaudoin, a PQ member of the assembly, said she introduced the motion because two fundamental rights were clashing -- the right to religious freedom and the right to security.

"You have choose one of these rights, and in a secular society, you chose to argue in favor of limiting religious rights," Beaudoin told the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Balpreet Singh of the Ottawa-based World Sikh Organization of Canada said in a statement Wednesday that "we're disappointed that the wearing of the kirpan, which is a human rights issue, has been politicized."

Kirpans are permitted in Canada's federal parliament buildings, and one Sikh member of parliament wears his daily.

Comments

[CommonWealth-SinglePayer]

06:56 AM on 03/03/2011

The Kirpin issue is just the latest in a string of decisions limiting non-French Rights in Quebec.
Understand the term "Pure Wool" en francais.

Check this Globe & Mail article March 3:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec/quebec-headed-toward-radical-option-in-dealing-with-religious-minorities-sociologist-fears/article1927736/

[Ichigo Kurosaki]

03:12 PM on 02/16/2011

I am very familiar with Sikh customs. The kirpans carried are always dull and blunted. It is a symbol of manhood. Has been for a long time.
Quebec is filled with egomaniacs who think they're French. Even the French can't stand them.

[j lasoul]

11:08 AM on 02/16/2011

I live in Quebec and I disagree with those here that have applauded the Quebec government or the end of multiculturalism. This is nothing to be congratulated as it is reflective of a deeper issue in Quebec society. Some segements of Quebec societies have a very strong nationalist streak which can manifest in a number of ways: as separatism, anti-religious stances, language-laws etc. Before they were going after Sikhs, the Quebec government (like that of France) was targetting Muslim women who wear a veil. They may tout "secularist" rhetoric to justify going after minorities but, in my opinion, they are merely uncomfortable with the large influx of immigrants in recent years which has added further pressure to a volatile cultural situation. Suddenly, the Quebecois culture isn't just being challenged by the English canadians (like me) here but also by visible and cultural minorities...the biggest fear of Quebec nationalists is the disappearence of their culture through slow erosion. This has nothing to do with protecting secularism and everything to do with marginalizing a community that is not "pur laine" (which is a metaphor for "pure born").

Even though the nationalists aren't in power, the liberal party is probably just trying to not galvanize the opposition.

[CommonWealth-SinglePayer]

07:04 AM on 03/03/2011

Very well said, Quebec still stuck in Colonial daze.

[Telly Savalas]

07:43 PM on 02/15/2011

God appeared to me in a vision - just today, oddly - and said that if I did not carry a 9mm semi-auto pistol in a shoulder holster every where I went, I could not ascend into heaven.
Now what do I do?
Blame Canada!

[patman77]

03:40 PM on 02/15/2011

i prefer a mexican switchblade myself.

[Pablo Gonzales]

12:46 PM on 02/15/2011

Wow some of the people here sound like the FoxNews crowd that is unexpected from the HP crowd....People please dont be bigots...As a muslim we know what that is like ...
1.When was the last time u read news of a Sikh stabbing someone with his knife
Baptized Sikhs are required to wear five articles of faith: the kirpan; the kara, a steel bracelet; the kangha, a comb; the kachhehra, a type of undershorts; and kes, the word for unshorn hair, which is covered by a turban
2. There can be a compromise maybe let them carry it but have it welded into the holder so u can't pull it out or make it blunt with no sharp edges for safety reasons dont just out right bann it.
3. Fear of something does not give u right to bann it Even a heavy clock, a cellphone, a chair, a pair of sissors or even a car can be used as a weapon we also dont bann them do we.Heck here in the US people have concealed weapon permits and they carry guns is that any diffrent..

[Balancedrock]

03:49 PM on 02/15/2011

1. April 20th, 2010. The three weeks prior.
http://www.ndtv.com/news/world/sikhs-fight-pitched-battle-at-toronto-gurudwara-20409.php
2. Here's a compromise: How about if the religion of peace not require weapons carried at all times.
3. As an American, I am not required to carry a concealed weapon, although I can apply for such a permit. After a thorough background check, and the approval of local and federal law enforcement, I can, in fact carry a concealed weapon. It's not prescribed by anyone that I do so by right.

[John Ramsey001]

08:13 PM on 02/15/2011

You are a muslim?

[jugganaut]

01:53 AM on 02/15/2011

What kind of religious ceremony needs that kind of knife anyway? Are they still doing ceremonial animal sacrifices?

Even so, if they're going to ban that kind of knife they shouldn't just concentrate on a particular religious faction.

[Pablo Gonzales]

12:48 PM on 02/15/2011

A kirpan is a ceremonial sword carried by all devout members of the Sikh religion. Many Sikhs compare the symbolism of the kirpan to that of the Christian cross, stressing the fact that it stands for an ideal, rather than actually serving as a weapon.( WHICH CASE YOU DONT HAVE TO BANN IT MAKE RULES TO ALLOW IT BUT MAYBE MAKE IT SO IT IS NOT SHARP BLUNT OR EVEN WELDED INTO THE HOLDER) Wearing the kirpan is a constant reminder that Sikhs have a duty to protect people, fight for justice, and act with virtue. Because the kirpan is perceived as a functional weapon by people outside the Sikh community, Sikhs sometimes encounter legal or social difficulties as a result of their obligation to wear the kirpan.

Baptized Sikhs are obligated to wear five items, known as the “Five Ks,” at all times. In addition to the kirpan, the Five Ks include: the kanga, a pair of comfortable cotton shorts; the kara, a steel or iron bracelet; the kacha, a wooden hair comb; and kesh, or unshorn hair. According to religious tradition, the mandate to wear the Five Ks was given to the prophet Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Like the kara, the kirpan is classically made out of iron.

[ZiggyBlues]

07:40 PM on 02/14/2011

god made me carry a weapon, but we are a religion of peace. Maybe it's time to step into mordern society.

[altoplano]

01:13 PM on 02/14/2011

Bravo, Quebec. Finally we see core societal values being defended instead of questioned in the name of multiculturalism.

Multiculturalism is a failure.

[bobcaygeon]

08:50 PM on 02/14/2011

While I agree with Quebec's stance on this, I do not see how this represents the failure of multiculturalism.

[HerrMonk]

04:32 PM on 02/15/2011

Because it doesn't work.

Multiculturalists tend to actually be materialists, so when they bump up against things like this there's trouble:

"We all have to accept and respect everyone's beliefs.... until I feel uncomfortable with it, then I insist they change and become 'moderate'."

[jitterith]

02:54 AM on 02/14/2011

the issue here is not an attack on the sikh religion or people it is the weapon in the legislature building asking them to downsize the weapon is not an attack on their religion just a common curtisy and respect for the legal system.

[TJS]

11:41 AM on 02/13/2011

...in related news, the National Rifle Association has formally protested to Congress that it's members have been banned from entering the capital building while carrying their "ceremonial assult rifles." Tom Selleck, the new right-wing face of the NRA (replacing Charlton Heston) said in a statement that "we're disappointed that the carrying of an AK-47 with 752-round clip, which is a human rights issue, has been politicized."

[Reaaaaa]

05:22 AM on 02/15/2011

Gun control laws were implemented in the US because of (massive) misuse of guns resulting in thousands of deaths. That is in contrast to this situation which has been done preemptively on the assumption that Sikhs will start attacking people with kirpans in the future.

[Pablo Gonzales]

12:50 PM on 02/15/2011

I have yet to read a article about a sikh stabbing someone with a Kirpan and anything can be used as a weapon a cell phone a car a chair a lamp and i have read alot of murders with these items should we bann them also

[HerrMonk]

04:33 PM on 02/15/2011

Gun control laws were implemented in the US because east-coast urbanites don't like guns.

[logicanada]

09:35 PM on 02/12/2011

Americans can open carry sidearms, but not in congress.

[Reyeshawk13]

11:17 PM on 02/12/2011

Although many Americans feel differently, carrying sidearms is not a religious duty. Carrying the kirpan is.

[bobcaygeon]

10:30 AM on 02/13/2011

Any religion has obligations which may limit your choices in the secular world. When religious laws are in conflict with secular laws, especially when it comes to carrying a weapon, secular laws should prevail. You don't see Rastas smoking ganga in the state legislature and that is a tenet of their religion. You can't use your particular fairy tale to allow you to do stuff the rest of us can't.

[bobcaygeon]

10:53 AM on 02/13/2011

What many of you may not realize is that there was a controversy in the late 80s over whether Sikhs should be allowed to wear their turbans as part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniform. You may remember the iconic uniform of the RCMP - scarlet tunic, blue breeches, Sam Brown belt and Stetson hat - and there was a lot of heated debate as to whether this tradition was more important than the right of Sikhs to both serve and remain within their religious doctrines. In 1990, the RCMP regulations were changed to allow both the turban and the kirpan, if I remember correctly. My point is that we do take religious freedom seriously in Canada, and tend to try to avoid knee-jerk reactions to situations like this.

[logicanada]

09:33 PM on 02/12/2011

Now I feel better about not being able to carry nail clippers on a plane.

[OuterBanx North12]

05:39 PM on 02/12/2011

Whether one agrees or not with this ban, it seems that it's of no consequence to anyone within the province of Quebec what anyone outside the province thinks about it.

[logicanada]

09:29 PM on 02/12/2011

as it should be.

[Reyeshawk13]

11:17 PM on 02/12/2011

True, but that will never stop the rest of us from commenting on it.

[loutreverte]

07:49 PM on 02/14/2011

And why should it?

Being part of a global world means global interest and global critique.

[butchcliff]

06:23 AM on 02/12/2011

Good for Quebec. Multiculturism in Canada has been a failure. It has created
division, not unity for it's people.

[OrchidBlack]

07:30 PM on 02/12/2011

Huh….

You do realize how this statement comes off right?

[butchcliff]

10:24 AM on 02/14/2011

Sorry ...got off subject...too early in the morn..shouldn't be mixing religion & politics
I'm old eh

[bobcaygeon]

07:44 PM on 02/12/2011

Sorry, I can't hear you over my universal health care, strong public school system, low foreclosure housing market and relatively gun free society. Yep, Canada sure is a failed state.

[butchcliff]

06:35 AM on 02/14/2011

Never said Canada is a failure...Just the Muticulturism experiment. It hasn't been
a success at bringing everyone together. It has only created division.

[loutreverte]

07:52 PM on 02/14/2011

Your response is just a deflection from the real issue, which means the criticism makes you uncomfortable.