Sikhs are permitted to carry kirpans in public in Victoria under the exemption made in the Control of Weapons Act.
But a Melbourne woman has now demanded this exemption on religious grounds to be overturned.
The woman and her family were in a shopping centre when they noticed a Sikh man carrying a knife in a sheath.
“My son actually leant over and said to me ‘the man behind us has a knife’,” said the woman.
“I shuffled over to have a look and … I was obviously alarmed.”
“Unfortunately in this day and age weapons and knives are a big threat and my son certainly felt intimidated.”
She told the Moorabbin Kingston Leader people should not be allowed to carry weapons on religious exemptions.
“I along with the community have the right to feel safe ... in this instance I feel we have been let down, in that a religion should not override our laws,” she said.
“If they want to carry these knives then it needs to be completely and utterly hidden.”
Jasbir Singh of Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria said it’s understandable for someone to feel alarmed at seeing the kirpan.
“We encourage everyone to keep the kirpan concealed. The purpose of carrying it is religious and not to make a show of it.”
The Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria also said that it would announce in all Sikh temples to appeal to the followers of the faith to keep the kirpan concealed.
Department of Justice and Regulation spokeswoman Sheree Argento told Herald Sun there is no reason for any person to be concerned by Sikhs complying with their religious observances.
