Sikh girl banned from taking kirpan to school over safety concerns

A six-year-old Sikh girl has been banned from bringing the kirpan to her primary school in the UK after an outcry from other students' parents who refused to bring their children to the school over safety concerns, according to a media report.

The girl brought the kirpan, worn by Sikhs as a mark of their faith, to the Redscope Primary School in Rotherham earlier this month, the Telegraph reported Wednesday.

One parent complained: "I'm sorry but, religion or not, a child's health and safety comes first."
Another said: "Most girls are not allowed to wear make-up in school, never mind carry a weapon."
She said: "The item is not sharp, and is often worn in schools by children of the Sikh faith nationwide."
A spokeswoman for the South Yorkshire Police said: "Police are aware that a religious kirpan was brought into the school by a six-year-old pupil."
"Local neighbourhood officers continue to work closely with the school, providing advice and reassurance and talking to parents."
"There are no wider safeguarding concerns and no crime has been reported. A number of comments on social media have been reported to us as race-related hate crime, following this situation."
"An investigation into the comments is underway."