Kirpan ban by Italian court has shaken Sikhs: SAD

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today expressed concern and anguish over the reported decision of Italian Supreme Court to ban wearing of 'kirpan', a dagger considered sacred in Sikhism, on the pretext of public safety.
The decision of Italian Supreme Court has shaken the Sikh community all over the world, it said.
The Italian High Cassation Court yesterday ruled against the Sikh Indian migrant who wanted to carry a kirpan, even as it was against the Italian law, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
The court said migrants who choose to live in the Western world have an obligation to conform to the values of the society they have chosen to settle in, even if its values differ from their own.

In a statement released to the press, the party secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the court has ignored the fact that carrying of 'kirpan' is essential and mandatory part of religious code of conduct of an 'Amritdhari Sikh'.
It is a question of faith and a fundamental right of a Sikh, the SAD said.

Banning of 'Kirpan' means that no 'Amritdhari Sikh' would be able to live in Italy after this order.
Cheema said SAD as well as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee will raise this issue at appropriate platform to ensure justice to Sikhs settled in Italy.
The party will also take up the matter with External Affairs Ministry and urge it to take up this matter with the Italian government at the earliest.