Sikh excluded from school for wearing bangle

LONDON: A Sikh student of Indian origin has been excluded from her school in Britain for refusing to take off her iron bangle.

Authorities at the Aberdare Girls' School in South Wales have barred 14-year-old Sarika Singh from attending her classes temporarily after she declined to remove 'Kara' which is a symbol of her faith, 'The Guardian' reported on Wednesday.

"My bangle is very important to me. It reminds me always to do good and not do anything bad, especially with the hands," Sarika was quoted by the daily as saying.

Unhappy with the decision of the school which has cited clear violation of uniform guidelines as reasons for her temporary exclusion, Sarika's family is planning to seek legal recourse soon.

Her mother, Sinita Singh, said she had already argued her daughter's case in a meeting with the governing body, but had been unsuccessful. "It is not jewellery, it is a symbol of our belief."

However, the school authorities have declined to comment on the issue.

The dispute is the latest in a series of rows over the wearing of religious symbols in schools in Britain. Last year, Shabina Begum, a 15-year-old Muslim student of Indian origin, lost her battle to wear a jilbab, a long loose gown, in class.

Earlier this year, a 12-year-old, similarly failed to gain the right to wear a full-face veil at a Buckinghamshire girls' school. Even in June this year, 16-year-old Lydia Playfoot lost her legal battle to be allowed to wear a Christian 'purity' ring as a symbol of her chastity.