The Sikh Federation has accused the Home Office of 'inappropriately targeting' the kirpan in an attempt to 'deflect from police failings' surrounding the murder of Henry Nowak. Police handcuffed 18-year-old Mr Nowak as he lay dying after his attacker allegedly made a false accusation that he had subjected him to racial abuse. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated that she is considering changes to knife legislation following Mr Nowak's fatal stabbing by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on December 3.
Specifically to the part of the legislation governing ceremonial knives like the kirpan? It would seem so, judging by the reaction.
Her comments came after Mr Nowak's father, Mark, called for greater clarity in the law on the definition and appearance of a Sikh kirpan, a sacred religious blade some Sikhs carry as an expression of their faith.
No doubt the nudge unit has been guiding him to focus on something other than the ruinous policy that caused the police actions that night.
The Sikh Federation said in a statement: 'The Home Office is attempting to deflect attention away from the real failings by the police and other Government agencies in the Henry Nowak case by inappropriately targeting the kirpan – a sacred article of Sikh faith – despite the clear fact that the murder weapon was not a kirpan.'
They don’t care about that; banning things that have no connection with the offence is preferable to changing the policy of preferential treatment for their pets that the police have been so carefully taught.
The Sikh Federation is encouraging more than 250 Gurdwaras – places of worship – to write to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Thousands of Sikhs are also expected to contact MPs 'demanding that the Home Office stop its discriminatory approach and engage properly with Sikh organisations'.
Maybe it will put the wind up some in marginal seats, and maybe it won’t. I'm betting on there not being enough of you to count.
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