Sikh woman sues IRS in Houston for not allowing her to wear ceremonial knife to work

A Sikh woman who was fired by the Internal Revenue Service in Houston has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the tax agency violated her religious freedom by prohibiting her from wearing a small ceremonial knife to the office.

The knife, known as a kirpan, is \"intended to remind the bearer of a Sikh\'s duty to protect the weak and promote justice,\" according to this story from the Houston Chronicle. . (The link also includes a Chronicle photo showing the knife.)

The karpan is one of five articles that Sikhs are obligated to wear as demonstrations of their faith.

\"It\'s a religious uniform just like a Jew wears a yarmulke or a Priest wears a white collar,\" said Harsimran Kaur, legal director of the New York-based Sikh Coalition, is quoted as saying.

OK, granted, you can\'t stab someone with a yarmulke. And seeing a knife on an IRS agent certainly might make visitors and fellow employees uncomfortable.

But, as the story points out, the government \"allows hundreds of sharp scissors, letter openers, knives and box cutters\" in the same federal building where the karpan was banned as a dangerous weapon.

The karpan the woman carried, the Chronicle said, was blunt, had a three-inch blade, and was sheathed at all times.

So who\'s right here? Your thoughts...

http://www.sikhpress.com