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26th May 2021

Sikh boy, five, has ‘sacred hair cut by school bullies’

Charlie Herbert

The boy is said to be “deeply hurt.”

A five-year-old Sikh boy has been the victim of a shocking attack by bullies, who cut his hair with scissors while at school.

The boy, from Alexandra McLeod Primary School in South East London, has launched an investigation into the alleged incident.

The boy has never had his hair cut due to his Sikhism, and My London reports that his parents have said they are now scared to send their son to school.

One of his parents said in a post on social media: “I am just posting this because we as parents are deeply hurt by this incident which happened today with my son in Alexandra McLeod School Abbey Wood.

“My son is only 5 years old, a Sikh boy and I never cut his hairs but someone in school today cut his hairs with scissors and my boy is really upset and saying ‘I am not going to school now’.

“I don’t understand from where a reception student can get scissors and it’s shameful.

“It’s bullying which should not be accepted. We are really scared to send him to school. Don’t know what to do to secure him in future.”

The school said it was aware of the incident last Friday, which is claimed to have happened when “most of the staff had left”, and that the matter will be investigated.

The Sikh Federation UK has said it was “totally unacceptable & devastating” for the child’s “sacred unshorn hair” to be cut by “another pupil.”

It tweeted: “Totally unacceptable and devastating to hear about the bullying & assault on a 5-year-old boy at south London school Alexandra McLeod.

“For a Sikh boy to have his sacred unshorn hair cut by another pupil while in school is one of the worst possible.”

The federation has called for an urgent meeting with education secretary Gavin Williamson “to discuss the shocking case.”