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 ones 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 ones 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.
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