Garda ruling against wearing of turbans ‘should be speedily overturned’

A BRITISH parliamentary peer and world-renowned human rights lawyer has claimed the ruling by Garda authorities that Sikh recruits may not wear a turban is indefensible and will easily be overturned in a court of law.

Anthony Lester of Herne Hill, a senior British counsel who was one of the main architects of Britain’s Race Relations Act and is an independent adviser to the British government on constitutional reform.

He said the Garda ruling against the wearing of turbans could be challenged by anarmoury of “legal weapons” .

“If I were asked my view, it would be that this ban should be speedily overturned. I cannot see what the defence could possibly be. It has no objective justification,” he said.

“In Britain, members of the police service and immigration service wear the insignia on their turbans.”

He said the ban discriminates against Irish Sikhs who wish to enter the police service.

He said Ireland has well-developed equality legislation and is bound by European equality law which should protect its people from discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

“There must be non-governmental organisations in Dublin or Cork who would take up the case and/or members of the legal profession,” said Mr Lester.

He said it would only take a Sikh organisation or individual to be subject of the legal challenge which could be taken in the Irish courts and, if necessary the European Courts of Justice and Human Rights.

“I do think commonsense and singular justice will prevail,” he added.

Members of the Sikh community have received hate mail since the controversial decision not to allow Sikhs joining the gardaí to wear a turban. The Taoiseach and Justice Minister have been called in to intervene in an attempt to get the Garda Commissioner’s ruling reversed.