The Sikhs of France
French Sikhs are a tiny minority in France. Numbering about 10,000, most of the Sikhs are based in Bobigny. There is one gurudwara in Bobigny.
Turban ban
French Sikhs have been in the limelight since the 2004 turban ban, banning Sikhs and other religions from sporting a headwear. This has met with anger and world wide protest by the Sikhs. At least five Sikhs wearing turbans or cloth covers for their uncut hair were barred from classrooms near Paris [0http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3635768.stm French Sikhs lambast school ban] . For 3 years the Sikhs continuously persuaded the authorities to lift the ban on the turban. After no avail the Sikhs opened their own private Sikh school, called Shere Punjab complexe. Currently Shingara Singh Mann is fighting the case for the Sikhs to have a photograph with their turbans for the driving licenses.
Shere Punjab complexe
Shere Punjab complexe is a private Sikh school in Paris. This school was created in the wake of the rule made by French authorities banning any religious symbol including the Sikh Turban. The school costed around 300.000 €, excluding building charges. The Sikh school was built by a local Sikh entrepreneur whose son was excluded from a public school in 2004. The boy had refused to remove his turban in class. The school began with less than 15 pupils. [1]
Gurudwaras
There is only one gurudwara in France.
- Gurudwara Singh Sabha Association, Bobigny
