Some commonsense has prevailed in not bowing to religious minorities in their expectations as to what their religious beliefs can be exempted from ....
and the request to alter the weapons act to be allowed to carry Sikh ceremonial knives is one that has been rejected and rightly so.
Especially in light of this incident that occurred in Sept 2021 in Brisbane ......
where feuding Sikhs used ceremonial weapons in a brawl at the local Sikh temple in the suburb of Runcorn.
COURT REFUSES TO SEE POINT
MATTY HOLDSWORTH
THE Supreme Court has dismissed an application that would allow knives to be carried into Queensland schools
for “genuine religious purposes”.
Court documents have revealed the director of an Australian religious group had applied for the state
government’s Weapons Act to be amended in the Queensland Supreme Court.
The application was made by Kamaljit Athwal, the director of the Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia, who said
the Weapons Act prevented her and others from entering Queensland schools for educational purposes.
According to the court document, Ms Athwal is an initiated as an Amritdhari Sikh and has been the society’s
director since 2010.
Initiated Sikhs are required at all times to wear or possess five mandatory “articles of faith”, which include an
undergarment, a small wooden comb, an iron band, have “un-cut” hair covered by a turban and a ceremonial
sword.
The sword, known as a kirpan, is made of steel or iron and is usually worn underneath clothing on a sling.
Kirpans come in a variety of shapes, sizes, bluntness and material.
Ms Athwal argued in the court document that if a Sikh were to remove any of the articles of faith, including in
instances of medical emergency, they must refrain from eating or drinking for a period of time.
“That would extend to the removal of the kirpan to enter school grounds,” the document read.
Ms Athwal said she and other initiated Sikhs had been excluded from school drop-offs and pick-ups, from
attending assemblies, meeting teachers, attending school activities and conducting work on school groups.
“Initiated Sikhs are prevented from entering school grounds because of their religious beliefs as a result of the
act, which impinges on a number of human rights and freedoms not suffered by non-Sikhs,” the document
read.
Further, Ms Athwal contended her ability to vote at government elections at her local school had been
deprived, given it was the most convenient place for her to do so.
Under the Weapons Act, a person must not physically possess a knife in a public place or a school unless the
person has a reasonable excuse. Maximum penalties including one year’s imprisonment. The Supreme Court
acknowledged the difficulties initiated Sikhs faced, however, on September 30, it dismissed the court
application.
It comes after a Queensland school allowed a Sikh parent to carry a sword through its gates in 2016 after it
bowed to religious sensitivities.
The incident prompted complaints from parents concerned that it might frighten children and potentially put
them in danger.
The school’s principal said at the time that police had told him it was “completely” legal.
(Police would never have said that.)
Article of the incident last year through SBS.
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No knives in school for Sikhs (Read 656 times)
