- Joined
- Apr 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,525
- Points
- 113
haircut 100
Probe cutting of hair of Singapore’s Sikh prisoners
June 19th, 2012 | Author: Online Press
Akal Takht
(AMRITSAR, 19 Jun) – The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, has marked an inquiry into complaints and allegations that Sikh prison inmates in Singapore are being forced to cut their hair against the community’s ‘maryada’ (code of conduct).
The takht has acted upon complaints filed by Madan Mohan Singh, a social activist, who works for a Singapore-based anti-narcotics association.
Madan Mohan Singh had urged the Akal Takht to issue directives on the issue so the Sikhs of Singapore could take up the matter with the Singapore government and prevent further “humiliation of Sikh jail inmates.”
He alleged on Monday that despite prison directives on regular hair grooming, the jail authorities in Singapore cut head and facial hair of Sikh jail inmates if they were found to be involved in taking drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol.
Singapore’s ministry of home affairs had also conducted an investigation after Madan Mohan Singh had raised the issue.
The Sikh Advisory Board (SAB), the highest council of Sikh affairs in Singapore, had wrongly advised the Singapore government by labeling Sikh inmates as non-practicing and non-traditional, he added.
“The SAB has misrepresented the Sikhs in Singapore by condoning and accepting the sacrilegious act of cutting a Sikh’s hair by a government department. In doing so, it has underestimated the hurt feelings of the community,” said Madan Mohan Singh.
Denying the charges, SAB member Surjit Singh told TOI from Singapore, “The Sikh Advisory Board had never ever advised the Singapore government that ‘those Sikh inmates, who smoke, consume drugs are non-practicing Sikhs’ and that their hair could be cut in prison.”
Probe cutting of hair of Singapore’s Sikh prisoners
June 19th, 2012 | Author: Online Press
Akal Takht
(AMRITSAR, 19 Jun) – The Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, has marked an inquiry into complaints and allegations that Sikh prison inmates in Singapore are being forced to cut their hair against the community’s ‘maryada’ (code of conduct).
The takht has acted upon complaints filed by Madan Mohan Singh, a social activist, who works for a Singapore-based anti-narcotics association.
Madan Mohan Singh had urged the Akal Takht to issue directives on the issue so the Sikhs of Singapore could take up the matter with the Singapore government and prevent further “humiliation of Sikh jail inmates.”
He alleged on Monday that despite prison directives on regular hair grooming, the jail authorities in Singapore cut head and facial hair of Sikh jail inmates if they were found to be involved in taking drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol.
Singapore’s ministry of home affairs had also conducted an investigation after Madan Mohan Singh had raised the issue.
The Sikh Advisory Board (SAB), the highest council of Sikh affairs in Singapore, had wrongly advised the Singapore government by labeling Sikh inmates as non-practicing and non-traditional, he added.
“The SAB has misrepresented the Sikhs in Singapore by condoning and accepting the sacrilegious act of cutting a Sikh’s hair by a government department. In doing so, it has underestimated the hurt feelings of the community,” said Madan Mohan Singh.
Denying the charges, SAB member Surjit Singh told TOI from Singapore, “The Sikh Advisory Board had never ever advised the Singapore government that ‘those Sikh inmates, who smoke, consume drugs are non-practicing Sikhs’ and that their hair could be cut in prison.”
