On April 2nd 2010, the stabbing of Brampton, ON, lawyer Manjit Singh Mangat with a Sikh kirpan (religious dagger) reignited the debate in Canada over the legality of carrying this religious symbol in public. The press and media caught on to the debate with fervor, but as ZAIDEO learnt from Mr. Mangat himself, the press took the story in from the wrong perspective.

ZAIDEO travelled to the Sikh Lehar Centre in Brampton to interview Mr. Mangat, recently released from hospital and recovering from his injuries. After a long day of giving statements and interviews in Peel Regional Police Headquarters, we only had a few minutes of discussion time with him regarding his opinions on the proposed ban of the kirpan, and the abuse of religious symbols to serve personal objectives.