Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel that the Sikh man whom was denied

58 replies

SoleSource · 02/08/2012 14:49

Entry to a football match in Coventry, (because he was carrying a religious sword) was being unreasonable to complain as that sword could have been taken off him in a fight (from his pocket) etc and used against him etc.

A sword has the potential to be used as a weapon religous symbol or not....

Sorry I am unable to provide links as my phine is shyte.

OP posts:
RuleBritannia · 02/08/2012 14:51

Unfortunately, I think the officials were correct to refuse entry. What they could have done though was to take the sword from him and give it back at the end of the match. They could not think laterally.

squoosh · 02/08/2012 14:52

I only found recently out that Sikh men carried these swords. There was something on the tv about a man being denied entry to Lords (I think) as he was carrying one.

I'd imagine most people are unaware of them and would be alarmed at the sight.

NorfolkNChance · 02/08/2012 14:54

Most Sikhs who carry the Kirpan have it under their clothes in an inaccessible way.

mayorquimby · 02/08/2012 14:59

Completely right decision in my opinion

eurochick · 02/08/2012 15:01

What do Sikhs do with it when they fly? Surely they could do the same for big events that apply airport-type security?

oldraver · 02/08/2012 15:03

I think the law says you are not allowed to carry fixed blades of a certain length in this country. No religion should be exempt of that

Trifle · 02/08/2012 15:06

Why on earth would you need to carry a knife to a football match.

Religion, my arse

bobbledunk · 02/08/2012 15:17

The law has to apply equally to everyone, yanbu.

Xales · 02/08/2012 15:24

I thought these were more symbolic and so sharp you would have to club some one with it to harm them?

RubyRosie · 02/08/2012 15:25

They were right to deny him entry while carrying it. Part of the traditional Scottish kilt outfit is a small decorative dagger tucked down the sock, DH had this confiscated by a wedding venue once as it could be used as a weapon, quite right too, I don't see the need to carry any kind of blade unless its a practical one like a swiss army knife and you actually need it for camping or similar.

Olympia2012 · 02/08/2012 15:27

Yeah google them. There was a long thread on these few years ago

thebody · 02/08/2012 15:34

No one should carry a weapon in this country of any religion creed or such reason.

CaliforniaLeaving · 02/08/2012 15:39

I thought I remember seeing a tv show about this, it went through all the religious reasons for their clothes, the sword etc. (It was when I was in UK years ago), a lot of them only had the hilt on the TV documentary and there was no sword attached, it was just a symbol. so they didn't get refused entry or refused a flight etc. It was way back in the 80's though things may have changed or some of them are just trying to be difficult.

Viviennemary · 02/08/2012 15:40

I think the sword should have been taken off him and given back at the end of the match.

Isityouorme · 02/08/2012 15:45

You can't carry offensive weapons for any reason, and the law must come before religion. Okay, there are exceptions such as small knife or fishing but not fuck off swords for being a spectator at an event. Tough shit sword carrying man.

osterleymama · 02/08/2012 15:58

It's not a 'fuck off sword' it's a small ceremonial blade so small it fits in the palm and it's blunt. It's about as dangerous as a hairpin.

I think religion is faintly ridiculous but I also think everyone should have the right to practice their religion freely and the Kirpan is an article of faith for Sikhs.

Healthy helping of ignorance on this

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 02/08/2012 16:01

They were right to refuse entry and they were under no obligation to look after it for him. Security guards don't get paid enough to take responsibility for something that is so precious to someone. What if they had had 400 Sikhs wanting them to look after swords for them?

Anyway, if the man was prepared to give up his sword for the duration of the match then he shudo have been prepared to leave it at home.

osterleymama · 02/08/2012 16:08

It's NOT a sword!! It's smaller than a banana!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 02/08/2012 16:16

They don't let you take tweezers or blunt nail scissors onto a plane, presumably because in theory, you could inflict damage with those.

This is no different.

How is the security guard supposed to know this man is a genuine Sikh and not just someone that's wearing a turban because he wants to injure someone.

sashh · 03/08/2012 02:26

There was a letter sent out before the Olympics and it tells you what you can and cannot bring. It says no knives, including those worn for religeous reasons. It also states that you will not get back anything they confiscate.

My local FE college has quite a detailed policy on the wearing of the kirpan.

You can only wear one if you are baptised, it has to have metal studs through the cover into the blade so it cannot be drawn and a few other things.

BTW it's not just men, all baptised sikhs wear them. A lot of Sikhs wear a small representation of the Kirpan on a chain around the neck.

SoupDragon · 03/08/2012 02:39

"fuck off sword" LOLOL.

As an aside, you can take scissors on a plane if the blades are less than 3cm long and have rounded ends.

and you can kill someone with a biro if you put your mind to it. are they banned?

ravenAK · 03/08/2012 02:54

I don't have a huge amount of sympathy, tbh.

good article from 2010 here.

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/09/dagger-dilemma-sikhism-kirpan-schools

lovebunny · 03/08/2012 04:56

kirpan come in many shapes and sizes! some are big fuck off swords, curved and serious looking, hanging from the waist to around the knee. some are neat daggers worn close to the body. some sikhs have a mini-kirpan under the turban or on a chain round the neck.

justaboutiswarm · 03/08/2012 05:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Isityouorme · 03/08/2012 06:32
  1. These swords can be over 3ft long.
  2. It is against the law to carry them - criminal justice act 1988
  3. This is the UK - live by our rules.
Swipe left for the next trending thread