United Sikhs – Sikhs Ask Canadian PM to Raise France’s Turban Ban at Meeting with French PM

Harper Should Raise France’s Turban Ban at Meeting with French Prime Minister: Canadian Liberal Leader

United Sikhs wrote recently to the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, requesting him to raise his objection to the French turban ban during his meeting this week with his counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Sikhs globally believe that a ban on the turban is a betrayal of France’s motto- Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

Canadian Liberal Leader Bob Rae said in a statement today, “If we are to be a defender of rights, we must defend them around the world, including in France. We would encourage Mr. Harper to have a frank and open discussion with his French counterpart on this issue”.

Canadian Sikhs have also asked all Canadian Members of National and Provincial Parliaments to release similar statements supporting a Sikh’s right to his turban, urging Mr. Harper to raise this issue with the French PM.

Toronto, Canada: United Sikhs wrote to the Canadian Prime Minister earlier this week asking him to raise his objection to the turban ban in France, during his meeting with his French counterpart, who is currently visiting Canada.

“It is not very often that the people of a nation write directly to their Prime Minister about the threat of their identity in another sovereign state,” United Sikhs’ director, Ranbir Singh, said in the letter to the Canadian Prime Minister.

“Unless France allows Sikhs to wear a turban in schools and on ID documents photographs, the Sikh turban would be deemed to be banned in France, which will be a betrayal of France’s motto – Liberté, égalité, fraternité,” the letter added.

“Globalization in the 21st century has made human rights a border-less right. It is now no longer acceptable to say that we cannot interfere with the ‘internal affairs’ of a sovereign state (France). The precedent was set in the previous century when the world joined the Blacks of South Africa to fight apartheid – an ‘internal affair’ of a sovereign state. Just as the Blacks of South Africa could not remove the color of their skin, Sikhs cannot remove their turban and strip themselves of their identity,” the letter said.

Liberal Leader Bob Rae made the following statement today on Stephen Harper’s meeting with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault:

“France’s decision to ban the wearing of turbans and other religious symbols in identification photos, government schools and public spaces has received international criticism and flies in the face of religious freedom. As a result of this ban, many Sikhs are denied access to employment, public health care and social benefits that require a government identification card. It should be an issue of great concern to this Conservative government and all Canadians.

After the much-publicized launch of Canada’s new Office of Religious Freedoms, today’s meeting is an ideal opportunity for this government to come to the defense of minority rights and walk the walk on religious freedoms. If we are to be a defender of rights, we must defend them around the world, including in France. We would encourage Mr. Harper to have a frank and open discussion with his French counterpart on this issue.”

In 2008, United Sikhs’ attorneys filed three cases against the French turban ban in schools and ID photos before the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC).

Victory was achieved at the UNHRC in the cases of both, Bikramjit Singh and Ranjit Singh. We await to hear the outcome of Shingara Singh’s case. If there was any doubt about the legality of France’s action, the eminent jurists of the UNHRC recently pronounced unequivocally that France had violated the human rights of both Bikramjit Singh and Ranjit Singh by denying them their religious right to wear a turban.

However, France has not overturned their ban and continue to enforce it on Bikramjit Singh and Ranjit Singh despite UNHRC’s decision. All Canadian Sikhs, United Sikhs’ team members and the global Sikh community urge and seek the support of the Canadian Government, Leaders of New Democratic Party, Liberal Party of Canada and all Members of the Parliaments to help raise this ban.

Sukhwinder Singh
Director, United Sikhs
Tel: 1-905-672-2245
Fax: 1-810-885-4264
unitedsikhs-canada@unitedsikhs.org

The Tribune – Punjabi hospitality floors Canadian PM, wife

Prabhjot Singh, Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, November 7. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to assuage the hurt feelings of the Indian Government by promising not to permit activities of Sikh separatists on the Canadian soil while appeasing the Sikh community by paying obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib before visiting Virasat-e-Khalsa here today.

“It has been a wonderful experience. I visited the Golden Temple during my last visit,” he said. Harper was accompanied by his wife Laureen and seven Indo-Canadian MPs, including Tim Uppal, the first turbaned federal minister outside India.

Harper today became the first elected head of a state to visit Virasat-e-Khalsa.

He has also become the first Prime Minister to visit two of the five Takhts —Amritsar and Sri Anandpur Sahib — of the Sikhs.

It has become conventional for Canadian premiers to visit the Golden Temple when they visit India. The only exception was Paul Martin, the last Liberal Prime Minister of Canada. He avoided visiting the Golden Temple because the controversial Bill on same sex marriages was before Canadian parliament at that time.

Though Stephen Harper also had neither Amritsar nor Anandpur Sahib on his itinerary, it was the Punjab Government that persuaded the visiting dignitary to visit Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and the much-publicised Virasat-e-Khalsa, a “modern wonder”, during his day-long visit to the city.

Congratulating US President Barack Obama on his re-election, he said the stand of the Canadian Government on preventing activities of Sikh separatists on the Canadian soil was well-known and acceptable to the Indian Government.

“We are committed not to permit any secessionist activities on our soil,” he added.

He did not respond to another question about delay in signing of the free-trade agreement with India. The Punjab Government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee rolled out red carpets for the Canadian premier and his wife. On arrival at the sanctum sanctorum, Punjab Health Minister Madan Mohan Mittal and Food Supplies Minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon received them. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal accompanied the Harpers from Chandigarh.

While Stephen Harper was presented a sword of honour besides a “siropa”, Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh presented “siropas” to other members of his entourage. Later, Dalmegh Singh, SGPC secretary, presented a copy of the Sikh Encyclopaedia and a painting of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib to the visiting VIPs.

Though the police had converted the Takht Kesgarh Sahib complex into a fortress, movement of pilgrims was also restricted, especially when the Canadian guests were inside the gurdwara. Harpers spent more than 90 minutes there. Harper and his entourage will leave for Bangalore tomorrow morning.

Though a strong business delegation accompanied him, no meetings could be organised between members of the visiting delegation and captains of the Punjab trade and industry. (With inputs from Arun Sharma).

Virasat-e-Khalsa mesmerises Harper

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib, visited the Virasat-e-Khalsa and said it was a wonderful experience. Putting his comment in the visitors’ book, Harper said: “I am happy to be the first Prime Minister of any country to have paid a visit here.”

Business goes for a toss

Harper’s visit proved costly for shopkeepers around Gurdwara Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib. As tight security was provided to the VVIP guest, the traders were told to keep their business establishments shut since Tuesday.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121108/main2.htm

The Tribune – Dal Khalsa sends memo to Harper

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 4. The Dal Khalsa today sent a three-paged memorandum to visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on alleged human rights violations in India.

The memo stated that there were media reports suggesting that the Indian authorities were preparing to “take up the issue of Sikh-Canadians who raise their voice against human rights violations in India”.

The Sikh party said it was glad that the Canadian PM would be discussing bilateral trade with the state leadership. “The Canadian Government should explore more educational ties between Canadian universities and those in Punjab,” the memo read.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121105/punjab.htm#21

The Tribune – Canadian PM to visit Chandigarh next month; Punjabi origin ministers Bal Gosal & Tim Uppal in delegation

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 26. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper begins his seven-day official visit to India from November 3. Accompanied by both of his ministerial colleagues of Punjabi origin, Bal Gosal and Tim Uppal, he would also visit Chandigarh during his trip.

It will be Stephen Harper’s second visit to India.

“Canada enjoys a strong working and personal relationship with India but we must further strengthen the links between our two countries,” said the Prime Minister.

“India is a growing economy with enormous potential, and expanding our trade and investment links with India will create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity here in Canada.”

Accompanying him will be a big business and cultural delegation besides five ministers. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Joe Oliver.

Minister of Natural Resources and Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), and Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform) will be part of the official delegation.

Other than meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his ministerial colleagues, Stephen Harper will also address the World Economic Forum on India, an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders.

Trade between India, one of the fastest growing economies, and Canada has been on the rise.

The strength of the ties between the two countries is reflected in the estimated 1 million Canadians of Indian origin residing there.

Stephen Harper would also visit Agra, Chandigarh and Bangalore.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121030/punjab.htm#16