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Sikh medical student permitted to wear kirpan in US after legal challenge
The student was barred from orientation unless he removed his kirpan, prompting legal action.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 24, Jul 2025
- 00:34 EDT
- 126
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Kirpan. / Getty Images
A 22-year-old Sikh medical student has secured a full religious accommodation to wear his kirpan on a US campus after initially being barred from doing so by university security. The resolution was finalized over the weekend of July 20 by the Sikh Coalition’s legal team, following weeks of advocacy and legal communication.
The student, an Amritdhari Sikh in his first year of medical school, arrived on campus for a two-week orientation only to be told he could not attend any sessions while wearing his kirpan. Security officers instructed him to surrender it if he wished to participate in classes or meetings.
After the student contacted the Sikh Coalition, the organization provided him with educational resources to share with university officials, including example kirpans and explanatory materials on the article of faith. The legal team also sent a formal demand letter and held multiple discussions with the university administration.
As a result, the university agreed to a full accommodation allowing the student to continue wearing his kirpan throughout his medical training.
“Thanks to the Sikh Coalition, I’m now able to wear my kakkars while attending medical school,” the student said. “I am excited to pursue my studies and ultimately my career, and grateful that I can do so without sacrificing any part of my commitment to Sikhi.”
Munmeeth Kaur, Legal Director at the Sikh Coalition, pointed to the broader significance of the case.
“No one—let alone a compassionate student seeking to serve others through a career in the field of medicine—should face a choice between their studies and their faith,” she said. “The Sikh Coalition always stands ready to fight for the rights of Sikhs to maintain all aspects of their faith, including kirpans.”
The organization noted that it has worked with a range of institutions over the past two decades—including schools, hospitals, and government agencies—to ensure that Sikhs are able to carry kirpans without discrimination. While misunderstandings have occasionally led to arrests or legal threats, such charges are almost always dismissed due to the religious nature of the kirpan.
In this case, several Sikh alumni and the North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association also advocated on the student’s behalf, sending letters to the administration urging the university to uphold religious freedom.
The Sikh Coalition encouraged any Sikh individuals facing similar challenges to contact its legal team.
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