January 5, 2008
Source: Hindustan Times/Indo-Asian News Service
Nearly 4,000 people have joined online petitions in support of a 14-year-old Sikh girl who has filed a legal challenge after being excluded by her school for wearing a kara.
Sarika Singh, a pupil at the Aberdare Girls' School in the Welsh town of Aberdare, has been excluded since Nov 5 and was forced to attend lessons in isolation for two months after the staff at the school first noticed her wearing the kara or bracelet.
Sarika, who is the only Sikh in her school, has refused to remove the kara, saying it should not be treated as jewellery. The school's uniform policy prohibits any jewellery other than a wristwatch and plain ear studs.