Sikh barred from jury duty after refusing to remove religious dagger

[rug]

CBS News/April 30, 2014, 4:39 PM

YUBA CITY, Calif. - A Sikh in California was barred from jury duty because he refused to remove a dagger that his religion dictates he wear at all times, CBS Sacramento reports.

Gursant Singh was told that he could not bring the dagger, known as a kirpan, into a Sutter County courthouse in Yuba City as a matter of security.

"I either break the law for not showing up for jury duty -- they can fine and imprison you if you don't show up for jury duty -- or I break my Sikh code of conduct, one of the two," Singh said.

A kirpan is a 5-inch blade that serves as a reminder to come to the defense of those in peril.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sikh-barred-from-jury-duty-after-refusing-to-remove-religious-dagger/