Close X
Friday, December 13, 2024
ADVT 
International

Sikh man barred from jury duty in California

Darpan News Desk, IANS, 24 Apr, 2014 10:49 AM
    A Sikh American is being prevented from doing jury duty in Sutter County in Northern California because of his kirpan, the ceremonial dagger worn by Sikhs as part of their religion.
     
    Gursant Singh, who is scheduled for jury duty next week, says he has been told that when he arrives at the courthouse, he should not bring his kirpan, CBS13 reported.
     
    Singh says he's unwilling to violate his religion's code of conduct. "I feel very strongly that as a citizen of the United States, I should be able to serve as a juror," he was quoted as saying.
     
    But "they've put me in a position", Singh told the TV channel. "Either I violate my code of conduct with my religion, or I break the law."
     
    "It's a very important article of our faith, put it that way," he said.
     
    Sutter County Jury Commissioner Mary Beth Todd told CBS13 that she was trying to come up with alternatives for Singh.
     
    "It's important that we provide a safe environment for people's issues to be heard," she said.
     
    One way out is what some Sikhs have done in other counties, including storing the kirpan with security, CBS13 said.
     
    "It's extremely important that we be sensitive to this, and we're trying to be sensitive to it, and we're trying to find a solution that will work for both sides," she was quoted as saying.
     
    But that solution does not work for Singh, who has taken to YouTube to bolster support, the channel said. He says he would rather be arrested than undermine his beliefs.
     
    "I'm willing to do that, if that's what it takes, in order to bring this issue out," he said.
     
    The Sikh Coalition, an umbrella community group, told CBS13 that many other government agencies have made exceptions for Sikh people to carry their kirpan, and they would expect the same from the court.

     

    MORE International ARTICLES

    300 more objects spotted, bad weather disrupts jet search

    300 more objects spotted, bad weather disrupts jet search
    Over 300 new objects were spotted by satellites of Thailand and Japan in or near the search area in the southern Indian Ocean where Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is believed to have been “lost” but bad weather Thursday forced Australian authorities to suspend the search operation, it was announced.

    300 more objects spotted, bad weather disrupts jet search

    South Asian body backs demand for immigration reform vote

    South Asian body backs demand for immigration reform vote
     A South Asian group in the US has come out in support of a 'Demand A Vote' petition introduced by Democratic leaders to bring the immigration reform bill to the House floor.

    South Asian body backs demand for immigration reform vote

    Bangladesh sets national anthem chorus singing Guinness record

    Bangladesh sets national anthem chorus singing Guinness record
    Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi volunteers along with the country's head of the government Wednesday sang the national anthem in chorus in capital Dhaka on the country's Independence Day in a bid to breach the Guinness World Record.

    Bangladesh sets national anthem chorus singing Guinness record

    122 objects spotted in search for lost jet: Malaysia

    122 objects spotted in search for lost jet: Malaysia
    Malaysia announced Wednesday that 122 objects have been identified in new satellite imagery that might be connected to the ongoing search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 now declared “lost”.

    122 objects spotted in search for lost jet: Malaysia

    North Korea Fired Two Short-Range Missiles: South Korea

    North Korea Fired Two Short-Range Missiles: South Korea
    North Korea fired off two medium-range ballistic missiles Wednesday morning in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions, South Korea's defence ministry said.

    North Korea Fired Two Short-Range Missiles: South Korea

    Hunt for lost Malaysian jet to resume Wednesday

    Hunt for lost Malaysian jet to resume Wednesday
    The search for the Malaysian airliner "lost" in the Indian Ocean will resume Wednesday, Australian authorities said Tuesday while Prime Minister Tony Abbott clarified the operation has now moved from search to recovery and investigative phase.

    Hunt for lost Malaysian jet to resume Wednesday