‘Hands off our sgian dubhs!’ UK ministers told to rule out ban on Highland knives
There are calls for Sikh kirpans to be banned in the wake of Henry Nowak’s murder - but would that inadvertently also ban Highland sgian dubhs?
The wearing of a sgian dubh as part of formal Highland dress is a tradition stretching back centuries - but there are fears it could be banned under calls to restrict the wearing of ceremonial knives.
Reform UK wants to ban British Sikhs from carrying kirpan blades in the wake of the death of Henry Nowak, who was stabbed to death by British Sikh Vickrum Digwa.
Currently Sikhs are permitted to carry small blades under UK law, but this is something Reform UK has said it wants to restrict.
However, Robin Swann MP from the Ulster Unionist Party says pushing ahead with this legislation could inadvertently also ban the wearing of sgian dubhs.
He now wants the UK Government to confirm it has no plans to ban sgian dubhs - or Sikh kirpans.
Speaking to The Scotsman, he said: “I want to get the government to confirm they have no intention of following Reform UK’s agenda on a Sikh kirpan ban.
“They have not thought about the impact this would have on cultural expression across the country.
“Trying to ban the wearing of ceremonial knives and daggers, taken to its full limit, would include sgian dubhs, which is a load of nonsense.
“That impacts on the Sikh community, Scottish communities, and on the pipe band community across the UK.”
Mr Swann is a pipe sergeant and vice-president of the Royal Pipe Band Association in Northern Ireland.
He added: “Reform UK has a central-England mindset and does not think through what their policies mean for the rest of the country.”
Mr Swann is due to quiz Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander on what the UK Government’s position is in the House of Commons on Wednesday morning.
Sgian dubhs are ceremonial blades worn in the sock as part of full Highland dress. Kirpans are curved blades Sikhs are required to wear, and are one of the five spiritual symbols of Sikh identity.
A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: “Wearing a sgian dubh is very much part of Scotland’s national dress and is permitted as such - there are no plans by the UK Government to change this.
“However, having it as part of the national costume does not allow for it to be used to threaten or harm people. Any occasions where a sgian dubh is used in this way will be met with the full force of the law, as it would any bladed implement.”
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