Mon, 14 Jun 2010 9:40p.m.
By Liz Puranam
The New Zealand Sikh Council are meeting this evening to decide whether to take the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club to the Human Rights Tribunal.
The meeting follows the club’s decision to refuse entry to Sikhs wearing turbans.
“We cannot just accept that we are being excluded,” says NZ Sikh Council spokesman Verpal Singh.
The club refused to be interviewed today, but said an overwhelming 80 percent of the 300 members who voted wanted to keep a ban on turbans and all other head gear.
The issue was first raised after age concern volunteer Karnail Singh was refused entry to the club to receive an award for his community work.
“Asking a Sikh to remove their turban is like asking somebody to strip down in public,” says Verpal Singh.
The Human Rights Commission mediated between the Sikh community and the club and say the club’s decision is unacceptable and archaic.
“It seems like a blast from the past,” says Human Rights Commissioner Joris De Bres.
“I’m deeply disappointed.”
While the Human Rights Commission can help mediate, they can’t actually force the Cosmopolitan Club to change their policy.
That power rests with the Human Rights Tribunal.
If the Sikh Council makes a formal complaint that is upheld by the tribunal, turbans could be coming into the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club whether their members like it, or not.
Religious headgear ban 'archaic' - HRC - Story - National - 3 News
