WEARING OF THE SIKH KARA IN SCHOOLS

That this House notes with concern the suspension of Sarika Singh from Aberdare Girls School in Wales for wearing the Sikh Kara, a religious steel bracelet; further notes that the Kara is one of the five Ks of the Khalsa in the Sikh religion and is a symbol of restraint and gentility, a symbol that a Sikh is linked to the Guru, a reminder that a Sikh should not do anything of which the Guru would not approve, a symbol of God having no beginning or end, and a symbol of permanent bonding to the community, being a link in the chain of Khalsa Sikhs (the word for link is kari); notes that the Kara is made of steel, rather than gold or silver, because it is not an ornament; believes that the continued suspension of Sarika Singh under the mistaken belief that the Kara is a piece of jewellery is a flagrant disregard for her freedom of religious conscience; further believes that she should not be made to choose between her faith and her education; considers that Sarika should be allowed to return to school immediately and be permitted to wear her Kara as an expression of her faith; and recommends that the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Welsh Assembly should issue guidance to schools so that this situation is not repeated.