Sikhs refused theme park entry in UK over kirpan

A Sikh children’s group was denied entry into a UK theme park after an elder accompanying them refused to remove the kirpan, an article of faith for the Sikhs, prompting accusations of religious discrimination. Staffordshire-based Drayton Manor Theme Park, popular with Coventry and Warwickshire families, denied entry to the children’s birthday party after the adult refused to remove the small Sikh ceremonial dagger.

A friend of the man described herself as “disgusted” and “saddened” at the reaction of staff and accused the Staffordshire attraction of religious discrimination. The party, who had spent hundreds of pounds on tickets for a six-year-old’s birthday, encountered problems over the kirpan worn by the school teacher, the Birmingham Mail reporte.

PTI