A SIKH lawyer from Southall has criticised the security staff at Ealing Magistrates' Court after a row that took place over his Kirpan (religious sword worn by Sikhs).

According to the Daily Express, Jaskeerat Singh Gulshan, 29, said he was left in tears after being forced to remove his Kirpan in order to be allowed into court.

A Kirpan is one of the five articles of the Sikh faith that must be worn at all times.

Mr Gulshan was at the court to support a witness but was told by a security guard to remove his Kirpan in order for it to be measured.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the requirements are that the whole Kirpan cannot be longer than six inches, with a blade of no more than four inches in length.

After waiting for 90 minutes for security staff to check the policy with magistrates, the immigration and family lawyer, along with his brother were both allegedly told to 'leave the court building or hand over the Kirpan.'

Mr Gulshan told the Express: "I am a lawyer and I have been attending courts on a regular basis for the last seven years with the same Kirpan and I have never had any problem.

"The security staff had no knowledge of Kirpans and they continuously referred to the Kirpan as a knife."

The two brothers eventually decided to leave their Kirpans in the car and return to court.

Mr Gulshan added: ""I felt harassed, embarrassed, degraded and discriminated against by the actions of security staff.

"I was forced to leave my Kirpan as I could not leave the victim alone in the court building.

"I removed my Kirpan in tears and left it in the car glove compartment, whilst apologising to God, and regretting that I am doing something I should not have to do."

The lawyer now says he's afraid of going into courts and could even consider a career change as a result.

He said: "I am now afraid of going to other courts as a lawyer and I am frightened that similar incidents may reoccur, and I will be forced to remove my Kirpan.

"Removing my Kirpan makes me feel like I am being prohibited from practising my religious values and I do not intend to do that in the future.

"If I am restricted from wearing Kirpan in the court buildings in the future, then I will consider changing my profession and I will not practise law."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told the Express: "Two members of the public were not permitted to enter the court after refusing to cooperate with staff who wished to check their Kirpans to ensure they were in line with HMCTS security guidelines.

"They decided to leave their Kirpans in their car and re-enter the court without them."