Canada’s Supreme Court Permits Sikhs to Carry Daggers to School

Sikhism is one of the most popular religions on the planet with about 23 million adherents. Its followers carry small ceremonial daggers as part of their faith, just as some Jews cover their heads. A huge trial in Canada challenged this on security grounds; daggers are, after all, weapons. The Canadian Supreme Court decided that freedom trumps security. May such wisdom spread south of the border.

In many ways, Sikhism is a laudable faith. Prohibited activities include not just intoxication, material obsession and sacrifice of creatures, it also includes “non-logical behavior,” “worthless talk,” and prejudice. Add in the fact that there is no priestly class, and it seems like a Sikh would make a good neighbor.

The faith also has what is known as the Five Ks, which all Sikhs are commanded to observe: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (a ceremonial comb and a sign of cleanliness), Karra (a circular bracelet symbolizing an unbreakable bound), Kachera (shorts or breeches), and Kirpan (the ceremonial blade at issue here, six to nine inches long). The Kirpan is never to be used in anger or attack, but self-defense is perfectly acceptable. Sikhism has no trouble with the idea that one must fight for peace on occasion (see World War II).

In Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys, a 12-year-old Sikh had dropped his Kirpan on a school playground, and twitchy parents fussed. “Religious tolerance is a very important value of Canadian society," Madam Justice Louise Charron wrote on behalf of five of the eight judges, all of whom voted in favor of religious freedom. “A total prohibition against wearing a kirpan to school undermines the value of this religious symbol and sends students the message that some religious practices do not merit the same protection as others.” She added, “There are many objects in schools that could be used to commit violent acts and that are much more easily obtained by students, such as scissors, pencils and baseball bats.”

Apparently, the way the kirpan is worn at school makes it ceremonial at most rather than a weapon, “in a fabric holster, sewn and strapped down” according to the Globe and Mail. Airlines are a different matter, where Sikhs are required to surrender their kirpan for a flight. Why? The court noted that in the more personal educational environment, it is possible “to better control the different types of situations that arise in schools.” It would seem that the Canadian judges "do nuance."

As Mr. Franklin said, “The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either.” Canada is a free society because Sikhs may carry their kirpans. There is a duty of every Sikh in Canada to carry the blade responsibly. So long as that is done, freedom and security needn’t be at odds.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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