Sikhs hit out at ‘mockery’ of swearing oath

SWEARING an oath on a religious book in court makes a mockery of religion, spiritual leaders have said.

The Network of Sikh Organisations warned that official advice saying Sikhs can swear on a holy book is inappropriate and “serves only to trivialise religion... We take the view that a truly religious person would be inclined to tell the truth irrespective of an oath.”

A spokesman for the judiciary, which produced the advice in consultation with the Sikh Council UK, said: “The College welcomes feedback on the Equal Treatment Bench Book... It explains that some people may feel that swearing on a religious book is not an appropriate procedure ... in a non-religious context.”