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Jedi Knights demand Britain's fourth largest 'religion' receives recognition
Last updated at 11:37am on 16.11.06
With their vast intergalactic knowledge and ability to harness the Force, the task of convincing UN officials to recognise their cause should be a walkover for a pair of Jedi Knights.
But self-proclaimed Jedis Umada and Yunyun, better known as John Wilkinson and Charlotte Law, have adopted a more conventional approach in their pursuit of recognition – delivering a protest letter.
The unconventional pair are calling for the UN to acknowlegde what has become Britain's fourth largest religion' with 390,000 followers.
The UN International Day of Tolerance, which takes place annually on November 16, is aimed at emphasising the dangers of intolerance and promoting integration and cohesion across the globe.
Umada, 27, and Yunyun, 24, both from London, want the day to be renamed the Interstellar Day of Tolerance' to reflect millions of people across the globe who have chosen to follow the Jedi code as a religion and truly reflect social diversity.
For the protest in Whitehall, the couple will wear full Jedi Knight robes and will be accompanied by a host of supporters including Star Wars favourite Chewbacca with a placard reading Tolerance for Jedis'.
Umada and Yunyun said: For the last ten years the United Nations has marked the International Day of Tolerance. While we support this important work, we feel the UN needs to move with the times.
Like the UN, the Jedi Knights are peacekeepers and we feel we have the basic right to express our religion through wearing our robes, and to be recognised by the national and international community.
We therefore are calling upon the United Nations Association to change November 16 to the UN Interstellar Day of Tolerance, to reflect the religious make-up of our twenty-first century civilisation.
Tolerance is about respecting difference where ever it lies, including other galaxies. Please don't exclude us from your important work. May the Force be with you.'
In the 2001 UK Census 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi Knight making it the fourth biggest belief in the country.
There are also an estimated 70,000 Jedi knights in Australia, 53,000 in New Zealand and 20,000 in Canada.
The United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the UK's leading independent authority on the UN and a UK-wide grassroots membership organisation.
Although the association is independent of the United Nations, Yunyun and Umada hope the organisation will take on the case with the global peace-keeping body.
Reader views (17)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
It is a proper religion and as real as any other religion in my opinion. The difference is it came from a film instead of a wacko writing it in a book a long time ago. May the force be with us all.
- Mark, exeter england
Well well, finaly some action. I declare myself as a Jedi for 10 years now, soon I could be it. Where do I sign too?
- Petar, Split, Croatia
If Jedi are recognised, will they have the right to bear light sabres? I know they are sworn to only use them in defence, but if one should be seduced by the dark side of the Force where will we be then?
- G, London
If being a Jedi can be recognised as a religion then surely we can petition for St Georges day to be recongised as a bank holiday
- Helen F, Kent
These kids are great, where do I sign?
- John Robinson, london uk
Quite honestly if Scientology is a recognised religion then I don't see why on earth not!
- Isabel, Woking, England
I agree with the comments of the budding Jedis and Padawans above, the Force is a something that all people can benefit from, indeed all our lives can be enriched by the Jedi code, if only Bush and Blair were believers, they could simply have used a Jedi mindtrick to establish the truth about Iraq and could have stopped Hans Blix's mind being so easily overcome by Saddam when he wigled his fingers infront of his face and said "these are not the WMDs you're looking for, move on, move on". Come to think of it, I might petition Sanatogen to start making "Midichlorian Supplements" as part of their A-Z Gold range of Multivitamins.
- Apollo, London, London, UK
Before giving my approval to this new religion, I want to know what its position is on same-sex marriages.
If it wishes to fly the same dreary route as the Abrahamic faiths have, then it's better not to launch at all.
- Geoffrey King, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Jeid is indeed a very strong force, we have living proof of this with a young Jedi Jaida been given to us. This proved so inspiring that we have now made contact with the man himself" Mr Lucas" to gain his approval to spread the existence of a true Jedi born in the World.
The force is with us... those who believe will see this.
- Jedi Jaida., London
At last a religion with some real history and entertaining graphic evidence to back it up!
May the force be with you.
- Ashley, Coruscant
I completely support the readers views below. We shouldn't under estimate the power of the force and the effect it has on all our lives.
- Rajan, London UK
Although I support the Jedi in their bold quest, I feel the matter needs to be taken much more seriously at home, with first seeking recognition from the UK census board of it's existence as a true religion. The Census board must understand that thousands of people in the UK are true padawan believers, who only have not yet mastered their use of the force. The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together. May the force be with you all.
- Kam Bal, London UK
I think it's excellent and would like to join. Interesting that there are more reported Jedi's than some recognised religions.
May the force be with them.
- Mike, Portugal
Don't these "wacky" pranksters have anything better to campaign about? Surely their efforts would be better directed to the real world with its many homeless drug addicts, starving potential pop-star adoptees and distressed donkeys.
- Keith, Farringdon
What about the right for my children to wear the full jedi robe to school?
- Ben, London
This is of course madness and cannot be compared to proper religions which promote such truths as resurrecting the dead, walking on water and parting large bodies of water as if by magic.
- Marcus, London, UK
I haven't got a problem with this, as long as these people promise to carry on taking their medication!
- Aloo, London
