Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
International

In a historic win, Sikh graduates US Marine boot camp with articles of faith

Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Aug, 2023 12:39 PM
  • In a historic win, Sikh graduates US Marine boot camp with articles of faith

New York, Aug 14 (IANS) A Sikh army recruit, who fought a two-year-long legal battle to keep his articles of faith, has graduated from the US Marine Corps recruit training with his turban, beard and unshorn hair, paving way for religious freedom in the American military.

Jaskirat Singh, who was shipped off for boot camp in May, graduated on August 11 after three months of hard training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

“I am honored to serve my country in the Marine Corps, and proud that I was able to do so while respecting my Sikh faith,” Jaskirat was cited as saying in a Sikh Coalition release.

“I hope that my graduation sends a clear message to other young Sikhs who are considering military service: Your faith does not have to be a barrier to any career,” he said.

"He was a squad leader throughout training," Major Joshua Pena, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, told Military.com.

"He met all the standards. He's a Marine... We're really excited to see what he does with his career," Major Pena added.

Jaskirat, along with Aekash Singh and Milaap Singh Chahal, had sued the US government in April last year after the Marine Corps offered an accommodation that would require Sikhs to surrender their turbans and beards while at boot camp.

They argued that allowing Sikhs to wear religious beards would disrupt troop uniformity and appearance among the recruits, ultimately threatening national security.

In a historic move last December, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately granted a preliminary injunction to allow Jaskirat to attend recruit training with his articles of faith.

The court cited that the present Corps' boot camp rule of cutting hair and shaving beards as a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

“Singh (Jaskirat) is the latest in a long line of Sikhs to prove that turbans and beards pose no barrier to honorable and capable military service. Now, with a forward-looking policy change, the Marine Corps can ensure that it continues to welcome more capable recruits from all faith backgrounds,” Amandeep S. Sidhu from Winston & Strawn LLP, said.

"His achievement is yet another testament to the simple fact that no one should be made to choose between any career and their religious beliefs,” Giselle Klapper, Deputy Legal Director of the Sikh Coalition, said.

Jaskirat's case was represented by the Sikh Coalition, Winston & Strawn, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and BakerHostetler.

Other branches of the US military -- the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard -- already accommodate the religious requirements of Sikhism.

MORE International ARTICLES

Gujarati community in Poland extends help to Indians arriving from Ukraine

Gujarati community in Poland extends help to Indians arriving from Ukraine
"The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) institute and the Sindhi community as well as the Gurudwara in Poland have come forward to help the stranded students as well as Indians evacuated from Ukraine," Patel said.

Gujarati community in Poland extends help to Indians arriving from Ukraine

16 kids killed in explosions, claims Ukrainian envoy to India

16 kids killed in explosions, claims Ukrainian envoy to India
While requesting foreign partners to exert pressure on the Russian President to stop the war, Polikha said that air space of Europe was closed for the Russian airplanes. The Russian economy is going down every day. Russia is having absolutely unprecedented casualties. Approximately 5,300 Russian soldiers have lost their lives in the ongoing tussle, he claimed.

16 kids killed in explosions, claims Ukrainian envoy to India

21 students stranded at Chernivtsi, narrate ordeal

21 students stranded at Chernivtsi, narrate ordeal
Of the 21 students, 11 are girls and 10 boys who are stranded at Chernivtsi. Girl students were also harassed and beaten by Ukrainian Police guards.

21 students stranded at Chernivtsi, narrate ordeal

Indian Mission in Slovakia moves officials near Ukraine border

Indian Mission in Slovakia moves officials near Ukraine border
India is working out evacuation plans for Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine through Romania, Hungary and Poland. The Foreign Secretary also stated that flight options will available from Dubai and Istanbul and the Indian Embassy continues to be operational in Ukraine.

Indian Mission in Slovakia moves officials near Ukraine border

46 MP students stranded in Ukraine safe, but exact numbers not known

46 MP students stranded in Ukraine safe, but exact numbers not known
The Madhya Pradesh government said on Friday that 46 students from the state who registered with the Chief Minister's helpline are safe in Ukraine. However, it is not known exactly how many students from the state are stranded in the war-hit country.

46 MP students stranded in Ukraine safe, but exact numbers not known

Russia closes airspace on borders with Ukraine, Belarus

Russia closes airspace on borders with Ukraine, Belarus
The announcement came shortly after President Vladimir Putin authorised a "special military operation" in the conflict-hit Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Flights to Kiev, Dnepr, Lvov and Odessa airports "are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation

Russia closes airspace on borders with Ukraine, Belarus