Sikh rights group asks UN human rights committee to declare that France violated a student's rights by expelling him for wearing a turban. Bikramjit Singh was 18 when he was expelled from school in 2004 for refusing to remove his turban, according to a group called United Sikhs. One of the other cases was already brought to the European court of human Rights, where it was dismissed last month.
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TheSun 2008-12-17 Page14 the Man Who Conned the World
Sikh rights group asks UN human rights committee to declare that France violated a student's rights by expelling him for wearing a turban. Bikramjit Singh was 18 when he was expelled from school in 2004 for refusing to remove his turban, according to a group called United Sikhs. One of the other cases was already brought to the European court of human Rights, where it was dismissed last month.
Sikh rights group asks UN human rights committee to declare that France violated a student's rights by expelling him for wearing a turban. Bikramjit Singh was 18 when he was expelled from school in 2004 for refusing to remove his turban, according to a group called United Sikhs. One of the other cases was already brought to the European court of human Rights, where it was dismissed last month.
NEW YORK: A Sikh rights group asked in 2004 for refusing to remove his to do is to find that the French state Shingara Mann Singh, 52, a French being brought to the UN committee a UN human rights committee on Mon- turban, according to a group called has violated Bikramjit Singh’s rights national, lost a series of appeals in under the terms of the International day to declare that France violated a United Sikhs, which held a civil rights and to recommend that measures be France against the refusal by authori- Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, student’s rights by expelling him for Conference in New York near the taken to rectify the decision,” Grosz ties to issue a new driving licence with to which France is a signatory. wearing a turban and to recommend United Nations on Monday. said in a conference call from London. a photograph of him wearing a turban, She said the appeal to the commit- repealing the law that led to it. Stephen Grosz, a lawyer for the “That effectively would mean a before taking his case to the Stras- tee was not about the three men in France passed a law in 2004 group, said United Sikhs had filed an repeal of the law and its replacement bourg-based court. question but about “25 million Sikhs’ banning children in state primary official communication with a General by something else,” he said. In the third case, pensioner Ranjit right to wear a turban.” and secondary schools from wear- Assembly committee dealing with hu- The rights committee passes only Singh was unable to access health care Kaur said it was unclear how long ing conspicuous religious symbols, man rights about Singh and two other non-binding motions or recommenda- since 2002 because French authorities it might take for the committee to including Muslim headscarves, Jewish Sikhs who have been unable to renew tions which carry only moral weight. would not renew his residence card decide whether to discuss the cases yarmulkes, large Christian crosses and French identity documents because One of the other cases was already unless he removed his turban for a or to reach a conclusion. Sikh turbans. they refused to remove their turbans brought to the European Court of Hu- photograph, United Sikhs said. A spokesman for the French mis- Bikramjit Singh was 18 when he for photographs. man Rights, where it was dismissed Mejindarpal Kaur, legal director sion to the United Nations said he had was expelled from school in France “What we’re asking the committee last month. of the group, said the cases were no comment on the issue. – Reuters
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‘byline strike’ over contract talks WASHINGTON: Journalists and photographers at Nov 30. Besides withholding bylines from stories the US news agency the Associated Press (AP) and photographs, the Guild said some employ- are withholding their bylines to protest manage- ees “planned to withhold use of their personal ment’s stance in contract talks, their union said vehicles, cellphones, and other equipment, while on Monday. others were ‘working to rule.’” “Staffers recognize the tough times, but they The Guild said the protest began on Sunday also understand that quality journalism at AP and is “set to end later this week.” means attracting and retaining the best employ- AP president and chief executive Tom Curley ees,” Tony Winton, president of the News Media said last month that the New York-based AP, a Guild, said in a statement. cooperative owned by 1,500 daily US newspa- The Guild said AP reporters and photogra- pers, plans to reduce its staff by 10% over the phers were withholding bylines and personal next year, mostly through attrition. equipment “in protest over the news agency’s The move, which would amount to more than proposals that would threaten job security, 400 jobs, was necessary because of a reduction dramatically raise medical costs, and freeze in fees paid by member newspapers, many of wages.” which are facing financial difficulties, and the The Guild, which represents 1,400 editorial, declining economy, Curley said. technology and support workers at AP, has been AP is one of the world’s three major news bargaining with management since Oct 21 on a agencies, along with Agence France-Presse and new contract to replace the one that expired on Reuters. – AFP