A Sikh ceremonial kirpan triggers a police raid on Auckland city bus
Police raided an Auckland city bus on Monday, July 24, when a passenger had reported a Sikh man carrying his ceremonial knife – an article of faith of Sikhism.
The man travelling on the Inner Link service bus in the Britomart and Queen St. area was carrying a ceremonial knife (kirpan) which is traditionally worn by Sikhs. The incident happened around 10 a.m. – a busy time for the city commuters.
The police stormed the bus and asked the man to take off the kirpan and surrender, which he did politely, a witness reported.
“I saw the police car with sirens blaring behind us, and the police came on the bus ‘with a gun’ and asked the guy 'Get your hands up so we can see them and get out of the bus'.", the witness told New Zealand Herald, who asked not to be named.
The passenger, thought to be in his 20s, was wearing a turban and had a long, curved "sword-like" kirpan strapped behind his back on the left side, which the police removed, said the witness.
They said that the armed offender's squad was not sent, but the witness was adamant he saw at least one officer carrying a firearm.
"Police spoke with the man, who is a Sikh," said the police spokesman.
"He was in possession of a ceremonial kirpan, which is customary for Sikhs. The man, who is lawfully living in New Zealand, was polite and cooperative and no further action was taken."
The spokesperson said the ceremonial kirpan wasn't confiscated.
National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has a member's bill in the Parliamentary ballot which, if drawn and passed, would allow Sikhs to wear a kirpan under certain circumstances.
A baptised Sikh has five articles of faith, and the kirpan is one of them, Mr Bakshi said.
Recalling a similar incident from not so distant past, where a member of the Sikh community was barred from entering cricket match being played between India and Zimbabwe during the 2015 cricket world cup, community leader Sunny Kaushal pointed that at that time Sikh community had taken up the issue with law makers including the then Justice Minister.
“Together, we have been taking up this issue from a long time and approached various Political leaders and Members of Parliament over the years, including arranging their visits to Gurudwaras and organizing presentations on 5Ks - kesh (uncut long hair), kanga (a comb), kara (an iron bracelet), and kachehra (under shorts),” Mr Kaushal said.
Earlier this month, when Prime Minister Bill English visited Kolmar Road Gurudwara, Papatoetoe, he was also apprised about these cultural aspects of Sikhism and popular expectations among the community of being allowed to move freely in public places along with these important cultural artefacts.
Mr Bakshi has also previously said about the needs of legislation around ceremonial daggers, so it's clear they are not weapons and are safe to be worn.
The bill will ensure the kirpan can be no more than 10cm and must be worn under clothing.
It will also require those who wear it also to be wearing the other four articles of faith - kesh (uncut long hair), kanga (a comb), kara (an iron bracelet), and kachehra (under shorts).
In 2008, Mr Bakshi became an MP and the then Speaker of the House, Lockwood Smith, allowed him to wear to wear the kirpan in the parliament and on planes.
"A kirpan is usually worn inside one's attire and normally is not exposed. It is blunt and doesn't have a sharp edge."
He didn't know of any other incidents where Sikhs had been stopped for wearing a kirpan, but said: "We are a multicultural society and it just shows that a bit more work needs to be done to understand other cultures." Mr Bakshi said.
Police raided an Auckland city bus on Monday, July 24, when a passenger had reported a Sikh man carrying his ceremonial knife – an article of faith of Sikhism.
The man travelling on the Inner Link service bus in the Britomart and Queen St. area was carrying a ceremonial knife (kirpan) which is...
Police raided an Auckland city bus on Monday, July 24, when a passenger had reported a Sikh man carrying his ceremonial knife – an article of faith of Sikhism.
The man travelling on the Inner Link service bus in the Britomart and Queen St. area was carrying a ceremonial knife (kirpan) which is traditionally worn by Sikhs. The incident happened around 10 a.m. – a busy time for the city commuters.
The police stormed the bus and asked the man to take off the kirpan and surrender, which he did politely, a witness reported.
“I saw the police car with sirens blaring behind us, and the police came on the bus ‘with a gun’ and asked the guy 'Get your hands up so we can see them and get out of the bus'.", the witness told New Zealand Herald, who asked not to be named.
The passenger, thought to be in his 20s, was wearing a turban and had a long, curved "sword-like" kirpan strapped behind his back on the left side, which the police removed, said the witness.
They said that the armed offender's squad was not sent, but the witness was adamant he saw at least one officer carrying a firearm.
"Police spoke with the man, who is a Sikh," said the police spokesman.
"He was in possession of a ceremonial kirpan, which is customary for Sikhs. The man, who is lawfully living in New Zealand, was polite and cooperative and no further action was taken."
The spokesperson said the ceremonial kirpan wasn't confiscated.
National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has a member's bill in the Parliamentary ballot which, if drawn and passed, would allow Sikhs to wear a kirpan under certain circumstances.
A baptised Sikh has five articles of faith, and the kirpan is one of them, Mr Bakshi said.
Recalling a similar incident from not so distant past, where a member of the Sikh community was barred from entering cricket match being played between India and Zimbabwe during the 2015 cricket world cup, community leader Sunny Kaushal pointed that at that time Sikh community had taken up the issue with law makers including the then Justice Minister.
“Together, we have been taking up this issue from a long time and approached various Political leaders and Members of Parliament over the years, including arranging their visits to Gurudwaras and organizing presentations on 5Ks - kesh (uncut long hair), kanga (a comb), kara (an iron bracelet), and kachehra (under shorts),” Mr Kaushal said.
Earlier this month, when Prime Minister Bill English visited Kolmar Road Gurudwara, Papatoetoe, he was also apprised about these cultural aspects of Sikhism and popular expectations among the community of being allowed to move freely in public places along with these important cultural artefacts.
Mr Bakshi has also previously said about the needs of legislation around ceremonial daggers, so it's clear they are not weapons and are safe to be worn.
The bill will ensure the kirpan can be no more than 10cm and must be worn under clothing.
It will also require those who wear it also to be wearing the other four articles of faith - kesh (uncut long hair), kanga (a comb), kara (an iron bracelet), and kachehra (under shorts).
In 2008, Mr Bakshi became an MP and the then Speaker of the House, Lockwood Smith, allowed him to wear to wear the kirpan in the parliament and on planes.
"A kirpan is usually worn inside one's attire and normally is not exposed. It is blunt and doesn't have a sharp edge."
He didn't know of any other incidents where Sikhs had been stopped for wearing a kirpan, but said: "We are a multicultural society and it just shows that a bit more work needs to be done to understand other cultures." Mr Bakshi said.
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