UK amends weapons bill to ensure right to possession of kirpans by Sikhs

The UK government has confirmed an amendment to a new weapons bill going through the Parliament to ensure that it would not impact the right of the British Sikh community to possess and supply kirpans, or religious swords.

The Offensive Weapons Bill 2018 completed its various readings in the House of Commons this week and has now moved to the House of Lords for



approval. 

The bill involves a new offence of possessing certain offensive weapons in public and places new restrictions on the online sales of bladed articles and corrosive products.

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs led a delegation to the UK Home Office in recent weeks to ensure that the kirpan remains exempt when the new bill becomes law.