The French embassy on Tuesday said there was no ban on wearing turbans in public spaces in France, while reacting to a reported charge by a Sikh organisation that the community has been fighting for t
The French embassy on Tuesday said there was no ban on wearing turbans in public spaces in France, while reacting to a reported charge by a Sikh organisation that the community has been fighting for their rights in France.
“Outside the premises of public schools, wearing the Sikh turban is very much allowed in public space, contrary to the allegations of certain radical organisations. Only the burqa is banned in public places, for obvious security reasons... Furthermore, neither Sikhs wearing turbans in the streets nor Sikh shrines were ever subject to any hostility in France,” the French embassy said in a statement in the wake of recent allegations from some quarters regarding the so-called restrictions imposed on the wearing of the Sikh turban in France.
“France upholds the freedom of religion as well as the right not to have one and opposes discriminations on this ground. There is no ban on the wearing of turbans. French law in this matter is very precise: the restriction applies to the wearing of all visible religious signs, without any discrimination, and it applies only to public schools. It leaves it to the heads of public schools to take the most appropriate measures, so that it is implemented in a sensitive manner,” the statement added. This measure has been explained to the Indian authorities.
