<p class="title">A Sikh man has been detained in the UK for carrying a kirpan, despite having legal right to carry the religious dagger, which is an article of faith for the Sikhs, according to a media report.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident took place on Friday on Bull Street in Birmingham and was uploaded to various social media pages.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The man told the police officer, "I'm a Sikh. I can carry this if I want to," the Metro reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the officer accused him of being aggressive and calls for back-up from other officers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident has been condemned by the British Sikh Council after being posted on a British-Punjabi Facebook group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The group said: "If he's a practising Sikh then there shouldn't be an issue."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Police have been criticised for "not knowing the law" after the footage emerged of the man being confronted over his ceremonial knife, the report said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, some defended the police officer's actions saying with that with a backdrop of crime it was his right to be cautious.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police on patrol in Birmingham city centre spoke to a man who was acting aggressively just before 6:30 pm on Monday, August 5 in Dale End. He was advised regarding his behaviour and no further action was taken."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident comes after another Sikh man was stopped by police for carrying a Kirpan at Gatwick airport, the report said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Kirpan is part of a religious commandment in which Sikhs must wear five articles of faith at all times.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, if a person can provide justification and evidence their bladed article is used for "religious reasons only" then it can be used as a "defence" should they then be charged with the possession, the report added. </p>
<p class="title">A Sikh man has been detained in the UK for carrying a kirpan, despite having legal right to carry the religious dagger, which is an article of faith for the Sikhs, according to a media report.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident took place on Friday on Bull Street in Birmingham and was uploaded to various social media pages.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The man told the police officer, "I'm a Sikh. I can carry this if I want to," the Metro reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, the officer accused him of being aggressive and calls for back-up from other officers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident has been condemned by the British Sikh Council after being posted on a British-Punjabi Facebook group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The group said: "If he's a practising Sikh then there shouldn't be an issue."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Police have been criticised for "not knowing the law" after the footage emerged of the man being confronted over his ceremonial knife, the report said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, some defended the police officer's actions saying with that with a backdrop of crime it was his right to be cautious.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Police on patrol in Birmingham city centre spoke to a man who was acting aggressively just before 6:30 pm on Monday, August 5 in Dale End. He was advised regarding his behaviour and no further action was taken."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident comes after another Sikh man was stopped by police for carrying a Kirpan at Gatwick airport, the report said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A Kirpan is part of a religious commandment in which Sikhs must wear five articles of faith at all times.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, if a person can provide justification and evidence their bladed article is used for "religious reasons only" then it can be used as a "defence" should they then be charged with the possession, the report added. </p>