United Sikhs Launch Campaign Against Proposed French Ban of Religious Symbols

January 6, 2004

Source: The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/406775.cms

On January 6, 2004 The Times of India reported, "United Sikhs, a Sikh organisation has launched a global signature campaign for people of all faiths to appeal French President Jacques Chirac to reconsider his call for legislation to ban wearing articles of faith, religion and ethnic identity in public schools and regulate their wearing at workplace...The signed petitions would be delivered to Sikhs in France who would further deliver the signatures to the French president and French parliament...Detailing the contribution of Sikhs in France, an e-mail sent to TNN by United Sikhs on Saturday said Sikhs have contributed valiantly to the French aspirations of liberty, equality and fraternity during the first and second World Wars...adding that such legislation would deny approximately 7,000 Sikhs residing in France their fundamental right to practise the Sikh faith."