Kirpan

Kirpan
Example of a full-size Kirpan. Kirpans of various sizes are worn by all Baptized Sikhs (Khalsa) at all times
Type	Dagger
Place of origin	India

The Kirpan (/kɪərˈpɑːn/; Punjabi: ਕਿਰਪਾਨ kirpān) is a sword or dagger carried only by orthodox Sikhs. According to a mandatory religious commandment given by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Guru of Sikhism) at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar (a holy religious ceremony that formally baptizes a Sikh) in CE 1699, all baptised Sikhs (Khalsa) must wear a kirpan at all times..

It was one of the five Kakars which displayed commitment to the Hukam. The kirpan is a symbol representing the power of truth to cut through untruth.

Although, not all those who identify themselves as Sikhs carry a kirpan, it is one of the five articles of faith required to be worn by orthodox Sikhs.

Sikhs embody the qualities of a "Sant-Sipahie"—a saint-soldier. One must have control over one's internal vices and be able to be constantly immersed in virtues clarified in the Guru Granth Sahib. A Sikh must also have the courage to defend the rights of all that are wrongfully oppressed or persecuted irrespective of their colour, caste or creed.

Further details

Typical Kirpan with Gatra

The Kirpan is the symbol crystallising the fact that when a Khalsa joins this army, he or she has left behind the docile environment of subservience and subordination and has joined the proactive and caring world of the fearless, brave, and courageous defence force of Guru Gobind Singh. The recruits of this army have a dynamic and constant duty to protect and to fight for justice for all the people of the world and to side with the oppressed and offer assistance and support to all weaker inhabitants without any reference to their race, sex, caste, nationality, religion, or beliefs.

Typically made from iron, kirpans range in blade size from 3 inches (7.6 cm) to over 3 feet (90 cm), though Sikhs in the West wear kirpans with a blade of about 3.5 inches (9 cm). Most Sikhs wear the kirpan concealed under their clothes. To the Sikhs, it is a highly important religious symbol; it is rarely used as a weapon.

Under no circumstances is the Sikh allowed to use force in aggression. Bhagat Kabir makes this very clear in the following verse:

The injunction to wear the 5Ks (Kakars) appears in the Reht Maryada (The Official Sikh Code of Conduct); "Have, on your person, all the time, the five K's: The Kesh (unshorn hair), the Kirpan (sheathed sword), the Kaccha (drawers like garment), the Kanga (comb), the Karha (steel bracelet)." (Reht Maryada, Ceremony of Baptism or Initiation, Section 6, Chapter XIII, Article XXIV, paragraph (p) see SGPC Regulations)

The Reht Maryada does not specify the length of the Kirpan or the construction of the various parts of the Kirpan or how and where it is to be worn by the devotee; it can be worn either over or underneath clothing. Kirpans usable as weapons are anywhere from 3 feet (90 cm) blade size as carried by Sikhs on religious festivals, marriages and parades, down to just a few inches (cm) in length as often worn in the West. The blade is normally constructed of mild steel and the handle may be made of metal surrounded with leather or wood. The kirpan is always kept sheathed except when it is drawn on such occasions as blessing of the Karah Prasad, ceremonial sweet pudding or Langar distributed during religious ceremonies.

Guru Gobind Singh in the following verses instructs the Sikhs to only draw the sword as a last resort and in response to an attack by the aggressor: (22) | Dasam Granth – Zafarnamah

'When all means of peace have failed, Right and just the sword to Hail' or "When todays time is moved by inappropriate tyranny. With Great fortune you are afforded, The sword Just!" Guru Gobind Singh.

Legality

Carrying the type of real, rather than symbolic, kirpan that many Sikhs consider that they—and their children—should carry is illegal in many countries. Generally carrying a knife for good (usually occupational) reason is allowed, and smaller knives, e.g., folding pocket knives, may often be carried without restriction. In many countries there has been debate about allowing Sikhs to carry a kirpan that would otherwise be an unlawful weapon, with some countries allowing Sikhs a dispensation. An additional issue is carrying kirpans into schools; even if a kirpan is not forbidden in society at large, schools often forbid carrying such items.

Other issues not strictly of legality arise such as whether or not to allow carrying of kirpans on commercial aircraft or into areas where security is enforced.

Belgium

On October 12, 2009 the Antwerp Court declared carrying a kirpan a religious symbol, overturning a 550€ fine from a lower court for "carrying a freely obtainable weapon without any legal reason".

Canada

In most public places in Canada a kirpan is allowed, although there have been some court cases involving the carrying of the object on school premises. In the 2006 Supreme Court of Canada decision of Multani v. Commission scolaire Marguerite‑Bourgeoys the court held that the banning of the kirpan in a school environment offended Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, nor could the limitation be upheld under s. 1 of the Charter, as per R. v. Oakes. The issue started when a 12-year-old schoolboy dropped a 20 cm (8-inch) long kirpan in school. School staff and parents were very concerned, and the student was required to attend school under police supervision until the court decision was reached. In September 2008, Montreal police announced that a 13-year-old student would be charged after he allegedly threatened another student with his kirpan. However, while he was declared guilty of threatening his schoolmates, he was granted an absolute discharge for the crime on April 15, 2009.

On April 2, 2010, Manjit Mangat, a fifty-three year-old lawyer and temple president was stabbed in the abdomen with a kirpan at the Sikh Lehar Centre in Brampton, Ontario. Police took Sukhwant Singh into custody over the matter.

On February 9, 2011, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously voted to ban kirpan from the provincial parliament buildings.

Denmark

On October 24, 2006, the Eastern High Court of Denmark upheld the earlier ruling of the Copenhagen City Court that the wearing of a kirpan by a Sikh was illegal, becoming the first country in the world to pass such a ruling. Ripudaman Singh, who now works as a scientist, was earlier convicted by the City Court of breaking the law by publicly carrying a knife. He was sentenced to a 3000 kroner fine or 6 days' imprisonment. Though the High Court quashed this sentence, it held that the carrying of a kirpan by a Sikh broke the law. The judge stated that "after all the information about the accused, the reason for the accused to possess a knife and the other circumstances of the case, such exceptional extenuating circumstances are found, that the punishment should be dropped, cf. Penal Code § 83, 2nd period."

Danish law allows carrying of knives in public places if it is for any purpose recognized as valid, including hunting, etc. The High Court did not find religion to be a valid reason for carrying a knife. It stated that "for these reasons, as stated by the City Court, it is agreed that the circumstance of the accused carrying the knife as a Sikh, cannot be regarded as a similarly recognisable purpose, included in the decision for the exceptions in weapon law § 4, par. 1, 1st period, second part."

India

Sikhism originated in India and is a major religion there, unlike the other countries discussed here. Article 25 of the Indian Constitution deems the carrying of a kirpan to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion, thus legalizing the carrying of a kirpan by Sikhs.

Sweden

Swedish law has a ban on "street weapons" in public places that includes knives unless used for recreation (for instance fishing) or profession (for instance a carpenter). Carrying some smaller knives, typically folding pocket knives, is allowed, so that smaller kirpans may be within the law.

United Kingdom

As a bladed article, possession of a kirpan without valid reason in a public place would be illegal under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. However, there is a specific defence for a person to prove that he had it with him for "religious reasons". There is an identical defence to the similar offence (section 139A) which relates to school grounds.

United States of America

There have been several court cases in states of the USA relating to the legality of wearing a kirpan in public places. Courts in New York and Ohio have ruled that banning the wearing of a kirpan is unconstitutional. In New York City a compromise was reached with the Board of Education whereby the wearing of the knives was allowed so long as they were secured within the sheaths with adhesives and made impossible to draw. In recent years the Sikh practice of wearing a kirpan has caused problems for security personnel at airports and other checkpoints; security personnel may confiscate kirpans if they feel it is necessary, but are advised to treat them with respect. Sikh leaders chose not to attend an April 17, 2008 interfaith meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC rather than remove the kirpan.

External links

• Advice for Sikhs on when to comply with authorities about the Kirpan.
• Explaining what the Kirpan is to a Non-Sikh.
• Press release VDPA Human Rights Conference, Vienna, Austria
• Sword in Sikhism