Letter to Foreign Minister, Dominique De Villepin and
Presidnt of France from President, SGPC


Amritsar Feb 15, 2004

Dominique De Villepin,
Foreign Minister,
Govt. of France,
Paris.

Respected Sir,

We take the liberty of drawing your kind attention to the ban recently imposed by the French Government on wearing of religious symbols in public schools over there. The ban would have grave consequences for the people practicing Sikh religion and has caused extreme concern amongst the Sikh Diaspora.

We write to your goodself on behalf of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which is the apex representative and religious organisation of the Sikhs.

1. The Law has banned wearing of turban which forms an integral part of the Sikh form. Every practicing Sikh is enjoined upon to have unshorn hair and have it covered by the turban. It is mandatory for every Sikh and no one has an exemption or option to this basic Sikh tenets and tradition. As such the Sikh case on turban is basically unique as compared to other religions. The Sikh religion and culture require its absolute adherence.

2. Your Excellency would appreciate that on November 25, 1981, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief and that no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice. Freedom to manifest one’s religion and belief may be subject to limitations to protect public safety order, health or morals in the rights of others.

3. The recent world conference against racism held at Durban, South Africa, recognised the distinct cultural identity of certain groups and called upon to protect it against any form of discrimination.

4. In the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 that every one shall have rights to freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion and to manifest his religion or belief in worship. Observance, practice and teaching and no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair this freedom. The States, parties to the covenant undertake to have respect and ensure the religious and moral education of their children in uniformity with their own convictions.

Your Excellency, it may also be not out of place to mention that the Sikhs have age old ties with the French people. The sovereign Khalsa State of Punjab had senior French officers. The Sikhs fought against the dictatorial and despotic regimes and for the forces of liberty, freedom and democracy along with the French people & State. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in action & your esteemed country has graves of such brave Sikh soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the dignity and freedom of every human being. They were all Sikhs having unshorn hair and wearing turban in accordance with the Sikh religious discipline. Your Excellency, we seek your personal intervention to undo this injustice and allow the Sikhs to practice and manifest their religion by restoring their right to wear turban.

With profound regards,
Yours sincerely,

(Gurcharan Singh Tohra)
President,
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
Sri Amritsar.


Letter to The President of France

 

His Excellency,
The President of France,
Paris.

His Excellency,
We take the liberty of drawing your kind attention to the proposed ban of France Government on wearing of religious symbols. It has very grave consequences for the people practicing Sikh religion and has caused extreme concern amongst the Sikhs living all over the world.

We write to your goodself on behalf of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which is the apex representative and religious organisation of the Sikhs.

1. The proposed legislation would ban wearing of turban which forms an integral part of the Sikh form. Every practicing Sikh is enjoined upon to have unshorn hair and have it covered by the turban. It is mandatory for every Sikh and no one has an exemption or option to this basic Sikh tenant and tradition. As such the Sikh case on turban is basically unique as compared to other religions. The Sikh religion and culture require its absolute adherence.

2. Your Excellency would appreciate that on November 25, 1981, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a declaration on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief and that no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice. Freedom to manifest one’s religion and belief may be subject to limitations to protect public safety order, health or morals in the rights of others.

3. The recent world conference against racism held at Durban, South Africa, recognised the distinct cultural identity of certain groups and called upon to protect it against any form of discrimination.

4. In the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights 1966 that every one shall have rights to freedom of thoughts, conscience and religion and to manifest his religion or belief in worship. Observance, practice and teaching and no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair this freedom. The States, parties to the covenant undertake to have respect and ensure the religious and moral education of their children in uniformity with their own convictions.

Your Excellency, it may also be not out of place to mention that the Sikhs have age old ties with the French people. The sovereign Khalsa State of Punjab had senior French officers. The Sikhs fought against the dictatorial and despotic regimes and for the forces of liberty, freedom and democracy along with the French people and State. Thousands of Sikhs were killed in action and your esteemed country has graves of such brave Sikh soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the dignity and freedom of every human being. They were all Sikhs having unshorn hair and wearing turban in accordance with the Sikh religious discipline. Your Excellency, we seek your personal intervention to stop this discriminatory law and protect the Sikh religious customary and cultural law which is basic to the Human Rights and allow the Sikhs to practice and manifest their religion by restoring their right to wear truban.

With profound regards,
Yours sincerely,

(Gurcharan Singh Tohra)
President,
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee,
Sri Amritsar.