LibDem MEP welcomes Sikh kara ruling

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 29th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman, London MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford, has welcomed today's High Court judgement that says Sikh schoolgirl Sarika Singh must be allowed to wear to school her kara (steel bangle), a symbol of the Sikh faith, and that to refuse her permission amounted to indirect race discrimination. Sarah said:

"This is the right judgement, although it should never have had to reach court. Britain is not France, where a very rigid separation is enforced between faith and secular places. A modest demonstration of faith at school or work should be a human right under the principle of free expression, just like a badge of allegiance to a legitimate cause. In the case of Sikhs, I know and appreciate how important it is to be able to affirm religious faith by wearing the important symbols."