Walking through the Eurostar security scanner, I heard that familiar beeping of the alarm and my heart sank.
Like clockwork, a French security officer appeared and ushered my husband, six-year-old son and I to a table for bag searches.
‘Open your suitcases,’ he demanded. ‘We want to see what’s inside.’
While it was our karas – a bangle usually made of pure steel or iron – that had set the scanners off initially, I knew our kirpans – a short sword with a curved blade, which is worn as part of a Sikh’s religious uniform – would soon become the focus of his search.
Sadly, it wasn’t the first time we’d been pulled up for articles of our faith – and I doubt it’ll be the last.
Every time we go on trips like this, we have to thoroughly research beforehand – and this Euro Disney holiday in April was no exception.
So I checked the Eurostar website beforehand to be crystal clear on the rules.
There were some obvious regulations, like items such as spears, crossbows, swords and starting pistols would – understandably – require a private courier. But things like bats, fencing equipment and sabres (as long as it was in a box in the suitcase) were allowed on board.
And while it didn’t say anything about kirpans outright, it did state that all flick knives, folding knives and daggers are banned – small folding pocket knives with blades under 75mm without a locking mechanism and camping cutlery are permitted.
Surely our kirpans – which measure around the same size – would be fine to take in our luggage?
I also double checked the guidance for Disneyland too. While the website didn’t say anything outright, I presumed it wouldn’t be an issue because I knew other Sikh families with their kirpans who’d made it inside without incident.
So, with everything seemingly in order, off we went.
Thankfully, leaving the UK was unproblematic. Security had no issue with us.
To be honest though, we don’t usually have problems in the UK because it is legal to wear the kirpan under both section 139(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
However, on arriving at Disneyland Paris, we were denied entry.
We were told that our kirpans were not permitted in the parks, nor was it usually allowed to leave them in their onsite hotel because they considered it a weapon.
So, after a lot of back and forth, we made a decision to leave the parks. And though it took four hours to do so, I was eventually refunded both the cost of our entry tickets to Disney and our hotel.
Booking an alternative hotel last minute in Paris (on the same weekend as the Paris Marathon, I might add) cost us a whopping £300 per night.
While we still made the best of the time there as we could – the whole trip had definitely been tainted for us.
Yet all this was nothing compared to the scrutiny we faced at Paris Gare Du Nord when trying to come home.
The minute the machine began beeping, I was on edge. The security officer was immediately rude and aggressive towards us.
Still, we followed his demands, unzipping our bags and showing him what was inside. From the moment he laid eyes on our kirpans, everything changed.
‘Non non non. They are not allowed,’ he said. He then began to reach for it to place it in a tray, at which point my husband interjected.
He asked to speak to the head of security and things got heated as we continued to protest. Eventually, we placed them in the tray simply to stop things from escalating further.
I remember my six-year-old son beginning to cry. Our departure time was edging closer and he was frightened that we’d not only miss our train, but that we could all be arrested.
I tried my best to console him, but I was furious myself.
It felt like we were being discriminated against for our religion. I was angry, worried, and upset but I was also embarrassed – there were so many strangers watching on.
A manager was then called over who simply said: ‘Daggers are not allowed’. She tried to walk away as if the case was closed, but I followed her.
I showed her the UK law and Eurostar website in an attempt to let us on the train and go on our way, but she only agreed to let us on ‘this time’ if the driver was fine with it.
Thankfully he was, and we were rushed to the train. We were even upgraded to first class, but all I wanted now was to get home safely.
The journey back was not easy. My son cried and vomited because he was so upset from the whole ordeal.
In the months since, I’ve often thought whether this trip was worth it. But the short answer is, yes, it was.
That might sound surprising, but it’s given me a reason to speak out and call for change.
Companies like Eurostar need to be conscious in constantly updating their regulations to recognise articles of religion. Without such updates, the Sikh community and families like mine will continue to suffer unnecessary distress.
We need to carry on speaking up.
Since then, I have been going back and forth with Eurostar to ask for an answer as to why this keeps happening.
On X, they told me in a private DM that I am allowed to take my kirpan on the train in a suitcase, as long as it’s three inches in size. They also apologised.
But in a recent statement that was also sent to me, a Eurostar spokesperson said: ‘Under security regulations set for Eurostar by the Joint Security Committee of the four countries we operate in, non-retractable blades are not allowed to be carried by customers. This does include kirpans.’
This feels utterly discriminatory. How is it right that someone carrying a cutlery knife or a Swiss army knife could get on the Eurostar without issue, but if I say I’m carrying a kirpan, then there’s a problem?
This guidance is confusing and that has to stop. We need a resolution so Sikhs are treated fairly.
As told to Minreet Kaur.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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