Sikh groups in the UK have strongly rejected calls for a ban on the Kirpan following a shocking murder case that led to the conviction of a man for using a knife. The groups have cautioned that unfairly targeting the Kirpan risks tarnishing an entire community for the actions of a single criminal.
Vikram Digwa, 23, was found guilty of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Henry Nowak with a 21-cm dagger last December. His mother, 53-year-old Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday. During the trial, Digwa denied the murder charges and claimed he had used the knife — which he carried ceremonially — in self-defence.
The case has brought the Kirpan into the spotlight, with far-right groups such as the Restore Britain party calling for a ban.
The City Sikh Foundation said in a statement, “Calls to ban the Kirpan in response to this murder risk unfairly targeting an entire community for the actions of a single criminal individual.”
It added, “Actions of one individual can never and should never be used to define an entire faith community. The British Sikh community is one of the most well-integrated and law-abiding communities in the UK, with a proud history in this country spanning more than 160 years.”
According to the group, “The Kirpan is a symbolic article of faith for Sikhs initiated into the Khalsa tradition. It is a constant reminder to Sikhs of the need to defend the most vulnerable in society, and it has been worn responsibly in Britain for generations.”
“We urge unity, calm and responsible public discourse at this very difficult time,” it added.
“This is not a case about Sikhism. This is not a case about racism. This is a case about murder,” prosecutor Nicholas Lobbenberg had told the jury before it found Digwa guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article.
The Sikh Federation UK also condemned the “unlawful killing”, which it feared had “unnecessarily stirred up community hatred”.
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