A retired judge has dismissed calls to ban the Sikh kirpan as irrational, drawing comparisons to other cultural and religious items that are permitted in public life. Hugh Howard, a former judge, wrote a letter responding to recent discussions about the ceremonial dagger worn by Sikhs, which has come under scrutiny following an incident described as a 'moment of madness'.
Judge Highlights Hypocrisy in Weapon Debates
Howard recalled a scenario he created for a judicial appointments commission recruitment exercise, where candidates had to adjudicate between a Sikh boy wanting to wear the kirpan and his Church of England faith school seeking to ban it. The scenario was based on his real-life advice to a school that wanted to prohibit the kirpan. He advised the school that it permitted cricket bats, balls, and pointed dividers, all of which had been used as weapons. A compromise was reached, allowing pupils to wear a swaddled kirpan under their clothing.
Sikh Community Condemns Misuse
The Sikh community has condemned the illegal use of the kirpan, Howard noted. 'A Sikh would no more think of using it as a weapon than any other faith group would think of using their religious symbols as weapons,' he wrote. He argued that any review of the kirpan should logically include the Scottish sgian-dubh, which he wears when kilted, the swords worn by serving and retired military personnel at service events, or the short sword he wore when dressed as a Roman soldier at a Christian festival.
Howard concluded that banning the kirpan is as irrational as banning the sale of kitchen knives, which are often used in crimes. He referenced a personal experience where a kitchen knife nearly severed his right thumb during a robbery. 'It is irrational to seek to ban the kirpan much in the same way as it would be irrational to ban the sale of kitchen knives,' he said.
