Police officer cleared of gross misconduct over patka removal – BBC News

‘A police sergeant has been cleared of gross misconduct after he removed the head covering of a Sikh man in custody.’

Full Story

BBC News, 3rd August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jail for ‘thug’ who attacked Sikh cleric ‘without any justifiable reason’ – The Independent

Posted October 7th, 2022 in assault, grievous bodily harm, imprisonment, news, racism, sentencing, Sikhism by tracey

‘A “thug” who punched a Sikh priest in the street “without any justifiable reason” and left him for dead has been jailed for three years.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Faith schools and safeguarding: R (Khalsa Academies Trust Ltd) – Law & Religion UK

‘The Khalsa Academies Trust Ltd is a multi-academy trust responsible for operating three academies, one of which is Khalsa Secondary Academy in Stoke Poges. Ofsted had concluded in January 2020 that the Academy was “Inadequate” and “requiring special measures”: in particular, that the arrangements for safeguarding were “not effective” and that “Leaders, including those at trust and governance level, have not learned from serious safeguarding failures. They have not acted with the urgency required.” The Secretary of State then decided that the Academy should be transferred, or “re-brokered”, to the Sikh Academy Trust. In R (Khalsa Academies Trust Ltd) v Secretary of State for Education [2021] EWHC 2660 (Admin), the Trust sought judicial review of that decision.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 7th October 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Inquiry Finds Religious Groups Are Failing Over Child Sex Abuse – Each Other

‘UK religious groups have been accused of “shocking failings” and “blatant hypocrisy” in the way they handle child sex abuse allegations, according to the findings of a recent inquiry.’

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Each Other, 7th September 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Millions of children in religious groups in England and Wales vulnerable to abuse – The Guardian

‘Children involved in religious organisations, including Sunday schools and madrasas, are vulnerable to sexual abuse in cultures where victim blaming, abuse of power and mistrust of external authorities are common, a report says. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) said there was “no doubt that the sexual abuse of children takes place in a broad range of religious settings”. It found evidence of “egregious failings” and highlighted the hypocrisy of religions that purport to teach right from wrong, yet fail to protect children.’

Full report

Full Story

The Guardian, 2nd September 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court judge dismisses legal challenge over lack of Sikh tick-box in 2021 Census – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 10th, 2020 in census, news, Sikhism by sally

‘A High Court judge has rejected a second legal challenge from the Sikh Federation UK over the lack of a Sikh tick-box as a distinct available response to the ethnic group question in the forthcoming 2021 Census.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 9th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sikh Federation UK launches another legal challenge over Census 2021 – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 27th, 2020 in census, equality, judicial review, news, Sikhism by sally

‘The Sikh Federation UK has brought a second judicial review challenge against the Cabinet Office over government plans for the 2021 Census.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sikhs, beards and “hygiene”: Sethi – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr R Sethi v Elements Personnel Services Ltd [2019] ET 2300234/2018, the Claimant, a practising but unbaptised Sikh, applied for a job with the Respondent: a specialist agency providing temporary staff for the hospitality industry, mainly at five-star hotels. He attended an induction course at which he was asked to sign various documents including the Respondent’s standard Contract for Agency Workers, which included the Respondent’s Code of Conduct. The Code provided, înter alia, that “No beards or goatees are allowed”. He explained that he would not be able to shave off his beard for religious reasons.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 15th January 2020

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Adoption and race discrimination: Mander – Law & Religion UK

Posted December 10th, 2019 in adoption, human rights, news, race discrimination, Sikhism by sally

‘Sandeep and Reena Mander are of Sikh heritage and were born and brought up in the UK. They identify as part of the wider Sikh community but are not religious:

“They go to Temple a few times a year much as, they say, some of their non-practising Christian friends go to church at Christmas or Easter. They consider themselves culturally British, whilst acknowledging their Indian heritage”.’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 10th December 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Trustees of Sikh Temple charity fail in High Court challenge to traffic management order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 11th, 2019 in charities, consultations, equality, local government, news, road traffic, Sikhism by sally

‘A High Court judge has rejected a legal challenge brought over the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s decision to make a traffic management order imposing additional parking restrictions in an area with a Sikh Temple.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 11th November 2019

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Boxing beard ban is discrimination, says Sikh amateur fighter – BBC News

Posted July 2nd, 2019 in equality, health & safety, news, religious discrimination, Sikhism, sport by sally

‘A ruling that amateur fighters in Wales must be clean shaven is discriminatory, a Sikh boxer has said.’

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BBC News, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Inquiry announces new investigation into child protection in religious organisations and settings – Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

‘The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has announced a new investigation into child protection in religious organisations and settings. The investigation will be thematic and will review the current child protection policies, practices and procedures in religious institutions in England and Wales.’

Full press release

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, 2nd May 2019

Source: www.iicsa.org.uk

Javier Garcia Oliva: Why the Constitutional Treatment of Religion in Great Britain Matters in Religious Disputes – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Two high profile cases concerning the approach of public authorities towards religion and identity, where the care and future of looked after children were concerned, have featured this summer.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 26th September 2017

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Charity Commission issues official warning to gurdwara – Law & Religion UK

Posted August 25th, 2017 in breach of trust, charities, Charity Commission, news, Sikhism by sally

‘The Charity Commission opened a compliance case in 2015 into Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash in Coventry and has now issued an official warning to the trustees under s 75A(1)(a) Charities Act 2011 on the grounds that “a breach of trust or duty or other misconduct or mismanagement has been committed by or in connection with the control and management of the charity as charity trustees”. This is only the second time the Commission has used its power to issue an official warning’

Full Story

Law & Religion UK, 24th August 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

British Sikh couple take legal action after being advised not to adopt – The Guardian

Posted June 27th, 2017 in adoption, news, race discrimination, Sikhism by tracey

‘A British Sikh couple are bringing a legal case, claiming they were advised by an adoption agency not to apply because of their “cultural heritage”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 27th June 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Disputed trusteeship: Shergill v Khaira yet again – Law & Religion UK

Posted April 25th, 2017 in news, Sikhism, succession, trusts by sally

‘The Chancery Division has handed down the latest judgment in the long-running saga about the disputed trusteeship of two Sikh gurdwaras in High Wycombe and Birmingham. In Shergill & Ors v Khaira & Ors [2017] EWHC 883 (Ch), HHJ Purle QC, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, found for the claimants.’

Full story

Law & Religion UK, 21st April 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Jasvinder Sanghera: I ran away to escape a forced marriage – BBC News

Posted February 24th, 2017 in forced marriages, news, Sikhism by sally

‘Jasvinder Sanghera was locked in a room by her parents when she was 16, when she refused to marry the man they had chosen for her. Here she describes how she escaped with the help of a secret boyfriend – but lost all contact with her family as a result.’

Full story

BBC News, 24th February 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sikhs in UK are ‘invisible to government’ despite hate crime increase – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2016 in hate crime, news, religious discrimination, Sikhism by tracey

‘British Sikhs have been “invisible to the government since 9/11” despite increased levels of discrimination and hate crimes, the Sikh Federation has said as a comprehensive survey of the UK’s fourth largest faith group was published.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th November 2016

source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Country Guidance case on Afghan Sikhs – Free Movement

‘At long last the long awaited new Country Guidance case on Sikhs from Afghanistan is out. The case is TG and others (Afghan Sikhs persecuted) (CG) [2015] UKUT 595 (IAC).’

Full story

Free Movement, 9th November 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Sikh wins compensation over prison turban challenge – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 16th, 2015 in compensation, news, prisons, religious discrimination, Sikhism, solicitors by sally

‘A Sikh solicitor has won undisclosed compensation after being barred from entering a prison to visit a client because he had pins in his turban.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th January 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk