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Kirpan Allowed in
Australian State of Queensland
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Sikh Missionary Society:
Articles: Kirpan Allowed in Australian
State of Queensland
Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia
announces that the wonderful seva and
effort they made in having the Kirpan
passed in the Australian state of
Queensland have borne fruit.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
!
It is with Waheguru Ji’s kirpa and with
great pleasure and honour to inform the
Sikh Sangat of Queensland that the Weapons
Amendments Act 2011 was passed through
Parliament on the 15th November 2011. The
amendment to section 51 will commence in
law on the 2nd January 2012. What this
means is that Sikhs can now lawfully wear
a Kirpan in Queensland.
We would like to thank Honourable Neil
Roberts Minister for Police, Corrective
Services and Emergency Services,
Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk Minister
for Transport and Multicultural Affairs
and Mr Bob Atkinson Queensland Police
Commissioner, for their continuing support
to enable us to have the Kirpan recognised
as a religious article of faith. I am sure
the Sikhs in Queensland will extend their
gratitude to all three and their teams for
their inexorable support to assist us get
the Kirpan included in the Weapons
Amendments Act 2011 as a recognised
article of the Sikh faith.
A Kirpan is one of the five articles of
the Sikh faith. The Kirpan is associated
with the words ‘kirpa’ (blessings and
benevolence) and ‘aan’ (honour and
dignity). The Kirpan is a curved blade,
kept in a sheath which is secured in a
gatra (cloth sash). Crossing over one’s
heart, this sash holds the Kirpan in
place; figuratively, it regulates the
wearing of theKirpan, securing it in
qualities such as mercy, contentment,
fidelity and purity.
Wearing a Kirpan requires us to be mindful
of our Guru Ji’s teachings. TheKirpan
upholds noble values and is a constant
reminder of one’s duty to defend the weak
and oppressed and exercise mercy and
compassion. The Kirpan is categorically
not to be used for aggression and the
right to carry theKirpan by an Amritdhari
Sikh carries with it the unflinching
responsibility of never misusing it. The
Kirpan is also used to bless food and to
bless newborns with Amrit or 'holy water'
– thus extending its association with
benevolence and blessing.
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Section 51 of the Weapons Amendment Act
2011 states:
“Amendment of s 51 (Possession of a
knife in a public place or a school) . .
(3A) Also, it is reasonable excuse for
subsection (1), to the extent the
subsection relates to a public place, to
physically possess a knife for genuine
religious purposes.
Example-
A Sikh may possess, in a public
place, a knife known as a kirpan to comply
with the person’s religious faith.
(3B) However, it is not a reasonable
excuse to physically possess a knife in a
school for genuine religious purposes.”
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This is a great victory for the Sikhs in
Queensland. Please share this information
with your families and friends. We
encourage other Australian States to
pursue Sikh issues with their local
Government members and where we can we
will endeavour to assist them.
With our Beloved Guru Ji’s grace and
guidance, in humbleness
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki
Fateh
Sewadaar:
Kamaljit Kaur
Sikh Nishkam Society of Australia
Director
PO BOX 7113 LOGANHOLME QLD 4129
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