WSC-AR Stands in Solidarity with WSO Canada on Kirpaan Issue

["WSC-AR" <contact@worldsikhcouncil.org>]

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[1]World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)

>P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA

>Phone: 972-985-9591

>Fax: 888-398-1875

>E-mail: [2]contact@worldsikhcouncil.org

>Web: [3]www.worldsikhcouncil.org

>[4]

>WSC-AR Stands in Solidarity with
>WSO Canada on Kirpaan Issue

Contact: Manmohan Singh, Secretary General, WSC-AR,
[5]contact@worldsikhcouncil.org, Phone: 972-985-9591

>January 21, 2011

The World Sikh Council ? America Region (WSC-AR) appreciates and stands in
solidarity with the efforts of Sikhs in Canada, led by the World Sikh
Organization (WSO) of Canada, in refusing to enter the Quebec National Asse 
mbly
on January 18, 2011 without their Kirpaans.

The WSC-AR supports the courageous stand taken by WSO Canada by not
compromising the pledge of Amritdhari (formally initiated) Sikhs to bear the
Kirpaan, and will continue to work with WSO Canada and other sister Sikh
organizations at the international level.

Dr. Satpal Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR said ?We have to respect the sanc 
tity
of the Kirpaan as a religious requirement. We stand firmly with the Sikhs of
Canada as they stand up for the right of Amritdhari Sikhs to bear the Kirpa 
an
as a required religious article of the Sikh faith. Freedom of religion has  
to
be balanced with the need for security.?

The WSC-AR had been concerned in the past that at events organized by some  
Sikh
organizations at the White House and Capitol Hill in the US, Sikhs have been
refused the right to bear their Kirpaan. WSC-AR calls upon all Sikh
organizations of the world to abide by the religious requirement of wearing 
 the
Kirpaan in gatra when its formally-initiated representatives attend any
meetings regardless of security arrangements. WSC-AR further calls upon Sikh
organizations to also abstain from sending non-Amritdhari Sikh representati 
ves
to attend gatherings that exclude the Kirpaan.

?The position of the World Sikh Organization of Canada in respecting the
sanctity of the Kirpaan should be an example for Sikhs across the world to  
not
undermine the articles of the faith to have a cup of tea with politicians, ?
said Ms. Amarjit Kaur, Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR.

The Kirpaan is one of the five articles of faith required of all formally
initiated Sikhs. It is to be worn in a gatra (sash) across the chest. The
Kirpaan (literally meaning ?bringer of mercy?) represents the Sikh comm 
itment
to resist oppression and injustice, but only in a defensive posture and nev 
er
to initiate confrontation.

In 2004 the then Chairperson of WSC-AR, was forced to decline an invitation 
 to
the White House when he was asked by staffers to remove his Kirpaan and hen 
ce
compromise the practice of his faith as a pre-condition to attend a religio 
us
gathering. The National Council of Churches in the USA supported the positi 
on
taken by WSC-AR at that time. In 2006, WSC-AR expressed solidarity with the
Sikh Federation (UK) when its Sikh representatives refused to enter the
European Union Parliament in Brussels, Belgium when asked to first remove t 
heir
Kirpaans. Following this in 2008, WSC-AR representatives were unable to meet
with Pope Benedict for an interreligious meeting when the US Secret Service
again refused to accommodate the Sikh requirement of the Kirpaan. Recently  
in
October 2010, a representative of WSC-AR attended an interreligious meeting 
 at
the White House with his Kirpaan intact after inspection by the US Secret
Service. This was the first time in recent history that a formally-initiated
Sikh was able to attend a meeting with US government officials at the White
House bearing the religious requirement of the Kirpaan.

Sikh representatives of WSO Canada were excluded from the Quebec National
Assembly on January 18, 2011 and prevented from speaking in favor of religi 
ous
accommodation for veiled Muslim women before the Committee on Institutions
because the Sikh representatives were bearing the Kirpaan as a religious
requirement of the Sikh Faith.

The World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada is a non-profit organization wi 
th a
mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well  
as
to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individu 
als,
irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic
status.

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative and
elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its
members include 45 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh
institutions, across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests at  
the
national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, 
 and
well-being of humankind.

>******************

>Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR:

1.  Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Stockton, CA
2. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
3. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA
4. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
5. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA
6. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO
7. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
8. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
9. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
10. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA
11. New England Sikh Study Circle, Boston, MA
12. Singh Sabha of Michigan, Canton, MI
13. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI
14. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI
15. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS
16. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
17. Sikh Sabha of Upper Valley, Hanover, NH
18. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ
19. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ
20. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
21. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ
22. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, Las Vegas, NV
23. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
24. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY
25. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
26. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH
27. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH
28. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH
29. Sikh Sadh Sangat, Easton, PA
30. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA
31. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
32. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN
33. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
34. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX
35. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX
36. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA
37. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA
38. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI

>Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR:

>1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA
>2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
>3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY
>4. Sikh Heritage Foundation, Long Island, NY
>5. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH
>6. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
>7. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX

>******************

>References

>1. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>2. mailto:contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
>3. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>4. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>5. mailto:contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
>This message was sent by: World Sikh Council - America Region, POB 3635, 
>Co lumbus, OH 43210

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