And while it says nothing about kirpans, it does specify that all folding knives, folding knives and daggers are prohibited – small folding pocket knives with blades less than 75mm without a locking mechanism and camping cutlery are permitted.

Surely our kirpans – which are about the same size – could fit in our luggage?

I also checked the directions for Disneyland. Even though the website didn’t say anything right off the bat, I assumed it wouldn’t be a problem because I knew other Sikh families with their kirpans who had gotten in without incident.

So, with everything seemingly in order, we set off.

Luckily, leaving the UK was no problem. Security had no problem with us.

To be honest we generally don’t have problems in the UK as it is legal to wear the kirpan under section 139(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Arms Act offensives of 2019.

However, upon arriving at Disneyland Paris, we were refused entry.

We were told that our kirpans were not allowed in the parks and were generally not allowed to leave them in their onsite hotel because they considered them a weapon.

So, after a lot of back and forth, we made the decision to leave the parks. And even though it took four hours, I was eventually refunded the cost of our Disney tickets and hotel.

We followed his requests nonetheless, opening our bags and showing him what was inside. From the moment he laid eyes on our kirpans, everything changed.

‘No no no. They are not authorized,” he said. He then started grabbing it to place it in a tray, at which point my husband intervened.

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 just to keep things from escalating further.

I remember my six-year-old son starting to cry. Our departure time was approaching and he was afraid that we would not only miss our train, but that we might all be arrested.

I did my best to console him, but I was furious myself.

It felt like we were being discriminated against because of our religion. I was angry, worried and upset, but I was also embarrassed – there were so many strangers watching.

A manager was then called and simply said, “Daggers are not allowed.” She tried to walk away as if the matter was closed, but I followed her.

I showed her UK law and the Eurostar website in an attempt to let us get on the train and continue on our way, but she only agreed to let us “this time” if the driver agreed.

Luckily he was and we were rushed to the train. We even got upgraded to first class, but all I wanted now was to get home safe and sound.

The return journey was not easy. My son cried and threw up because he was so upset about the whole ordeal.

In the months that followed, I often wondered if this trip was worth it. But the short answer is yes, it was.

This may seem surprising, but it gave me a reason to speak out and call for change.

We have to keep talking.

I have been going back and forth with Eurostar ever since asking why this continues to happen.

On X, they told me in a private DM that I was allowed to take my kirpan on the train in a suitcase, as long as it was three inches long. They also apologized.