Harsimrat Badal urges EAM Jaishankar to address UAE restrictions on Sikh religious symbols

Chandigarh : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, requesting urgent diplomatic engagement with the UAE government to safeguard the religious rights of Sikhs, particularly regarding the wearing of the kirpan and kataar.

Her appeal comes in response to a recent advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in the UAE, cautioning Indian citizens against carrying sharp objects in line with Article 405 of the UAE penal law.

The advisory has caused anxiety among Sikh residents and travelers, as the kirpan — a sacred article of Sikh faith — falls under the category of restricted items.

In her letter, Badal expressed deep concern over increasing instances of Sikhs being detained or forced to remove their kirpan and kataar in the UAE.

She referenced a recent case in which an elderly Sikh man was reportedly detained in Abu Dhabi for wearing his kirpan and turban, incidents she said have caused "mental agony" to the global Sikh community.

"The kirpan is not a weapon of violence but a spiritual and symbolic emblem of justice and responsibility as mandated by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Denying Sikhs the right to wear their five kakkars, especially the kirpan, is a serious infringement on their religious freedom," she stated.

Badal called on the Ministry of External Affairs to send a high-level delegation — including members of the National Commission for Minorities and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — to hold constructive dialogue with UAE authorities and international agencies. The aim would be to sensitize them about Sikh beliefs and ensure respect for their religious practices.

She emphasized the positive contribution of the Sikh community globally, including in the UAE, and underlined that mutual respect for religious identity was essential in upholding India's values of pluralism and diversity.