Outrage after Sikh boy forced to shave off beard in Australia

From Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jun 2 (PTI) A Sikh boy was forced to a
shave off his beard by a school in the Australian state of
Victoria, sparking an outrage among the Indian community which
accused the institute of religious discrimination, a media
report said on Thursday.
The boy studying in Class 11 at an outer northern
Christian school in Melbourne was forced to shave off his
beard, Harkirat Singh of the Sikh Federation of Australia was
quoted as saying by ABC radio.
Early this week, Singh said he was contacted by the
parents of the student who was forced to shave off his beard.
The Sikh Federation, according to report, said it had
left the boy feeling depressed and embarrassed, and amounts to
bullying.
Helen Szoke, the Equal Opportunity Commissioner, was
contacted who said there was a need to be clear and wide
consultation to take into account race and religious beliefs
at schools.
The Victorian school has apologised for forcing the
Sikh student shave off his beard against his religious
beliefs.
The school's principal, who wants to be known only as
Paul to protect the boy's privacy, said the teacher involved
did not know the school had earlier agreed not to make the boy
shave.
"Our process has brought us to the conclusion that
facial hair will be permitted by the Sikh boys at the school,"
he was quoted as saying.
"I apologise for any harm that he might have felt or
any hurt that he might have felt. That's not our intention, to
cause harm to anybody," he said.