Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Canadian Sikh Argues For Religious Exemption From Cycle Helmet Law
In a Brampton, Ontario courtroom this week, Baljinder Badesha, a Sikh, contended that he should be granted a religious exemption from the province of Ontario's motorcycle helmet law. (Highway Traffic Act, Sec. 104). Badesha's religious beliefs require that he wear a turban outside his home. Yesterday's Brampton Guardian reports that the Ontario Human Rights Commission is presenting arguments supporting Badesha in his defense against a ticket for violating the helmet law. The Commission says that it is discriminatory to apply the law to Sikhs, and that Ontario should join British Columbia, Manitoba, the U.K. and Northern Ireland in creating a religious exception to the safety rule.