U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday (August 30, 2026) he will encourage G20 members to re-examine terms of trade with China to shrink global imbalances and press Beijing to rebalance its economy away from exports and toward domestic consumption.U.S
Step inside Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth's first home in Chennai: 18th-floor gem that blends vintage and modern styles Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 14:10:07 IST By Krishna Pallavi Priya Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A look inside Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth's first home in Chennai
Goa nightclub fire case: SC upholds HC order cancelling bail of club ownersGoa nightclub fire case: SC upholds HC order cancelling bail of club owners Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 14:03:27 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link New Delhi
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Add a little shine and sparkle to your lips with these 5 glitter lipsticksIf you are bored of your regular lipsticks then its time to switch to glitter lipsticks
Techie lands in Bengaluru from US via Amsterdam, calls out Delta, KLM over missing bagA techie landed in Bengaluru from the US via Amsterdam, only to discover his checked baggage was missing. Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 12:10:34 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A techie
Daughter takes mother to movie theatre for the first time with her own earnings: ‘This is priceless’A daughter used her own earnings to give her mother her first movie theatre experience. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 13:36:14 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A daughter
The government has notified the scheme with an outlay of Rs 1.27 lakh crore to boost the in the country.The scheme has been divided into six segments covering designing of chips by Indian firms, setting up units for capital equipment required for chip production, semiconductor fabs, chip assembly
Anti-conversion bill won’t be tabled in Goa assembly: BJP lawmakerRuling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Michael Lobo said the government acted in haste in having the bill cleared in the Cabinet Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 14:06:30 IST By Gerard de Souza Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
A murder in the UK reopens debate on whether Sikhs should be allowed to carry kirpans in public
The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton in the United Kingdom in December 2025 is a profound tragedy that has left a family grieving and deeply affected the wider community. Any discussion that follows must keep that loss clearly in view.
Following Digwa’s conviction and sentencing, Nowak’s father said the family did not want his death “to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.”
Local and national Sikh organisations expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences, while unequivocally condemning the killing and stating that Digwa’s actions were “in direct contradiction to Sikh teachings and values” and wholly unrepresentative of Sikhs.
In court, the judge noted that Digwa was carrying a kirpan – a ceremonial blade that is typically worn in a small, discreet form – as well as a larger bladed weapon, which was used in the attack.
Wider questions have since been raised about religious exemptions. Should Sikhs be allowed to carry kirpans in public? And, given this horrific case, are existing legal protections for religious bladed instruments still justified?
The kirpan is a blade worn as part of the Five Ks – the five markers of identity adopted at initiation into the Khalsa (the community of initiated Sikhs).
These are kesh (uncut hair), kangha (a wooden comb), kara (an iron or steel bangle), kachera (specific undergarments) and kirpan. The term kirpan combines kirpa, meaning compassion, and aan, meaning honour or dignity.
There is a widespread misunderstanding, reinforced in some media reporting, that all Sikhs wear a kirpan. In practice, only Amritdhari Sikhs, those formally initiated into the Khalsa and committed to its teachings, are required to do so. They represent a small proportion of the global Sikh population.
UK law treats the kirpan through a “good reason” provision, allowing it to be carried for religious purposes in a specific context – typically as part of an ongoing commitment to the Five Ks – rather than as a standalone item.
Within Sikh tradition, the kirpan is understood as a gift from the Guru and is linked to a duty to protect the vulnerable, resist injustice and stand against oppression. It is carried as a reflection of the ideal of the “saint soldier”, combining spiritual discipline with societal responsibility and a commitment to protect others.
In UK law, carrying a knife or bladed article in public is an offence under the Criminal Justice Act. But the law allows the carrying of a bladed article where there is a good reason to do so, including religious practice and national dress – as in the case of a sgian dubh, worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress.
Crucially, the law distinguishes between carrying and use. The “good reason” justification applies only to possession. If a blade is used to harm others, any justification falls away and it is treated as a weapon. This means the law permits the carrying of the kirpan as a religious article, but never its use for harm.
Unlike most religious exemptions, which do not involve objects associated with risk in public space, the kirpan also sits within criminal weapons law that aims to address knife crime. Because knife laws focus on potential harm rather than intention, the kirpan occupies an unusual position: both a religious obligation and an object associated with risk. The law does not remove this tension, but manages it.
Different legal systems respond to the kirpan in different ways. Where Sikh communities are long established, accommodation is more common. Where they are smaller or less visible, the kirpan is more likely to be understood primarily as a risk.
In Canada, courts have emphasised accommodation, allowing kirpans in schools while accepting proportionate safeguards to manage risk. In Italy, courts have taken a stricter approach, treating the kirpan under general weapons law regardless of its religious meaning.
In Australia, a school incident prompted a temporary ban that was later reversed after consultation with Sikh organisations. Elsewhere, the kirpan is managed through broader frameworks of public order or justified possession.
India’s Constitution explicitly recognises the kirpan as part of Sikh religious practice.
There is little evidence that blanket bans reduce harm. Instead, most legal systems manage the issue through safeguards and negotiation. The challenge lies in balancing religious freedom with perceptions of risk, rather than attempting to resolve that tension entirely.
Courts generally recognise the kirpan as a genuine religious obligation while also acknowledging its potential for harm. Within Sikh tradition, the kirpan is linked to the duty to protect others. In law, however, this does not create a right to use force.
Any use of a kirpan as a weapon falls outside legal protection, even in defence of others. The law manages this tension by allowing possession in defined circumstances while maintaining clear limits on harm.
Henry Nowak’s murder raises a difficult question: would restricting possession of the kirpan prevent incidents of this kind? The short answer is no. Violence using a blade is already illegal.
Restricting the exemption would affect who can carry a kirpan, not the legality of violence itself. It would place Amritdhari Sikhs in conflict with the law, without addressing the underlying causes of violent acts.
A more productive approach would be to clarify the terms of the exemption. Shared expectations already exist within Sikh communities about how the kirpan is to be worn in everyday contexts, reflecting longstanding practices. These are increasingly developed and clarified through engagement with schools, employers and policymakers.
Initiation into the Khalsa is intended to establish how the kirpan should be worn and the responsibilities it entails. But these expectations are not always clearly understood outside Sikh communities, or consistently applied.
As Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, has said, the aim should be to make change for the better, not to create further division. The challenge is how to respond to violence in ways that improve safety without deepening misunderstanding.
This article first appeared on The Conversation.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Downing Street hits out after Vance post about Henry Nowak Southampton murder involving kirpan sparks anger against police response and fears of religious division The Ed Gein Story - Did Ed Gein murder his brother Henry in real life Did Ed Gein murder his brother Henry in real life Southampton lose appeal against play-off expulsion over Spygate Southampton's Hail Mary Stun Fulham Southampton Accused Of Spying On Middlesbrough Ahead Of EFL Playoff Southampton owner will not sack head coach Eckert FA opens Southampton investigation over Spygate Fulham agree £30m fee for Southampton's Charles
The rupee fell 13 paise to trade at 95.56 per U.S. dollar on Monday (August 31, 2026) morning pressured by rising crude oil prices and geopolitical strain. Forex traders said market participants have raised the probability of a September Fed rate hike, pushing U.S
1 days ago
An FIR was filed against Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on a purification ritual. The Congress party criticized the Uttarakhand government for this action. They questioned why no case was filed against those who performed the ritual. The Congress stated they would respond through democratic and legal
1 days ago
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a case against Dehradun gym owner Deepak Kumar, who had opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members in January, Live Law reported. The bench also stayed the Uttarakhand High Court’s March order restraining Kumar from
1 days ago
OpenAI said on Friday that it plans to end its agreement providing AI models to Cursor, the coding-tool company now owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. OpenAI said it was not confident that SpaceX would use its technology “within our terms of service
1 days ago
Bhagwat defended Gen Z protesters, then Modi branded them 'dimaagi naxal': Dipke“I have been saying from the beginning that BJP leaders need to start heeding Mohan Bhagwat’s advice,” the CJP founder said. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 10:14:26 IST By Faisal Malik Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy
1 days ago
Did Brawadis get back with his ex-girlfriend Jasmine? Here's all we knowBrawadis said that he and Jasmine had experienced "down moments" but chose to work through them instead of ending the relationship permanently. Published on: Aug 31, 2026
1 days ago
Sensex and Nifty start lower after previous week's reboundBSE Sensex was at 76,978.61, 0.37 per cent or 285.90 points down in opening trade on Monday while Nifty was trading at 24,117.55 - 0.24 per cent down. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 09:21:24 IST By HT Business Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via
1 days ago
The toll in the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal and China, which occurred on Wednesday, rose to 919 on Monday. Of these, 903 deaths were reported in Nepal and 16 on the Chinese side of the border. More than 4,200 persons were missing in Nepal. This included 275 Indians
1 days ago
Google Maps has changed the name of “Lake Ontario” to “Lake America” for U.S. users to reflect President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the lake, according to a Google statement. Mr. Trump announced on Thursday (August 27, 2026) that he was changing the name of the smallest
1 days ago
Designer Sandeep Khosla responds to Urvashi Rautela's 'gandi copy' of Gigi Hadid saree from 2023 NMACC opening in Mumbai Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 10:16:09 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Sandeep Khosla reacts to Urvashi Rautela's Cannes 2026 look
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.ASUS Jelly75 keyboard KD201 review: A prebuilt keyboard I didn't feel like modifyingThe Asus Jelly75 combines a striking translucent design, smooth typing and versatile connectivity
1 days ago
‘You didn’t get robbed, you got outworked’: Man in US hits back at ‘Indians steal jobs’ claimA man in the US hit back at claims that Indians “steal jobs”, saying they earned opportunities through hard work. Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 10:51:35 IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Prefer HTon
1 days ago
Grand Canyon flash flood: National Park to close hotels, enforce water restrictions – 5 things to knowFlash floods damaged the Transcanyon Waterline, forcing Grand Canyon National Park to halt overnight hotel stays, introduce strict Stage 4 water restrictions. Published on: Aug 31, 2026
1 days ago
Can too much exercise be dangerous? Neurologist explains when intense workouts may harm the heart Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 10:13:37 IST By Anukriti Srivastava Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Can pushing your body too hard during exercise cause a heart attack? (Unsplash) From heart attacks
1 days ago
When Sonia Gandhi became president of India's main opposition Congress party in 1998, she was an unlikely and largely enigmatic political leader. Italian-born and the widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, she had spent years avoiding the political spotlight before taking charge of a party
1 days ago
Meta's Vice President and Head for India and South East Asia, Sandhya Devanathan, is leaving the social media giant after more than a decade and is all set to join OpenAI as Vice President for South East Asia and Australia. In this newly-created role
1 days ago
Woman reveals how she makes ₹8.8 lakh a month from user generated content: ‘No outreach’A woman turned user-generated content into a ₹8.8 lakh monthly income in just five months. Published on: Aug 31, 2026, 10:58:19 IST By Vaishali Kapila Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link A woman
1 days ago
August 31, 2026, Birthday Horoscope: You may find yourself looking beyond your current circumstances this yearYour birthday falls on August 31, 2026 here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 11:00:15 IST By Kishori Sud Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
1 days ago
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Sunday (August 30, 2026) reached Turkiye for a trilateral defence pact meeting, which also includes Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the trilateral defence agreement
1 days ago
A woman who was heading to an airport to catch an early-morning flight was saved from a potential cab fare scam thanks to her calm and composed approach. She claimed that the driver tried to charge her nearly 40% more than the fare shown on the ride-hailing app
1 days ago
An employee’s Reddit post about being pulled up by HR for arriving 15-20 minutes late has sparked a debate over workplace expectations. The employee claimed they had regularly worked overtime and weekends, but were still questioned about occasional delays during quieter days
1 days ago
A first information report was registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly promoting enmity between groups and deliberately outraging religious feelings, PTI reported on Sunday. This came a day after Gandhi demanded that an FIR be filed against those who carried out a
1 days ago
August 31 is the deadline for taxpayers filing ITR Forms 3, 4. 5 & 7. These taxpayers must file their ITR on or before the deadline to complete their tax duties and avoid penalties and notices. ITR filing deadline for August 31, 2026: The deadline for filing the income tax return for FY 2025- 26 is
1 days ago
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Watch9 show why it rules Android’s smartwatchesWith a key Qualcomm chip change, Samsung’s refining the formula for experience and on-device AI, which intertwines with a broadened health and fitness suite Updated on: Aug 31, 2026
1 days ago
The US Department of State has confirmed that a January 2026 pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect, following a court order in the case CLINIC et al. v. Rubio et al. The State Department updated its guidance on August 28
1 days ago
The dramatic footage was almost impossible to miss. A torrent of water tearing through Gyirong Port, one of the main border crossings between Nepal and Tibet, sweeping away all in its path as hundreds of people fled for their lives. The scenes, captured by CCTV cameras
1 days ago
‘Could only think about how we were going to escape’: Nepal flood evacueesPilgrims, who traveled to Kathmandu for a religious retreat, faced dangers from floods before safely returning to India. Updated on: Aug 31, 2026, 11:04:16 IST By Pradip Kumar Maitra Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
1 days ago
