Sarkozy rules out lifting turban ban

President Nicolas Sarkozy said the rules apply to everybody without exception and there is no discrimination against Sikhs.

Ruling out the lifting of a ban on wearing turbans in public schools in France, President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday said the rules apply to everybody without exception and there is no discrimination against Sikhs.

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"We respect Sikhs, their tradition and culture. We have rules concerning the neutrality of civil servants and rules concerning secularism," Sarkozy told reporters during a joint press briefing with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of the 9th India-EU summit here.

"Rules apply to everybody with no exception. There is no discrimination (against Sikhs)," he said.

In France, wearing turbans is banned in public funded educational institutes.