Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
International

US Army Allows Turbans, Beards, Hijabs In Military

Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Jan, 2017 12:35 PM
    The US Army has issued a new regulation under which servicemen who wear turbans, hijabs or beards can now be enrolled in the military, making the force more inclusive of minority religions and cultures.
     
    The new set of rules, issued by Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, allows religious accommodations to be approved at the brigade-level. Previously it was at the level of Secretary.
     
    Once that approval occurs, the change will ensure that the religious accommodation is enduring and applies to most positions within the US Army.
     
    "This is a major progress, not just for the Sikh-American community but for our nation's military. Sikh-Americans love this country and want a fair chance to serve in our country on equal footing. Today's announcement will help do just that," Congressman Joe Crowley said welcoming the directive issued by the US Army Secretary.
     
     
    "We are a stronger nation, with a stronger military because of our respect for religious and personal freedom," he said.
     
    The move has been welcomed by Sikh-Americans and US lawmakers who have been on the forefront of a national campaign in this regard for the past several years. Before the January 3 changes announced by the US Army, Sikh-Americans and others had to be granted a limited accommodation or permission to serve in the army while maintaining their articles of faith.
     
    Such accommodations were neither permanent nor guaranteed, and had to be renewed after virtually every assignment. Service members had also been required to remove their articles of faith while their accommodation request is pending, once again subjecting them to the difficult position of choosing between their faith and job.
     
     
    Sikh-American Coalition, which has been on the forefront of such a campaign, welcomed the move, but said that this is still short of what they have been asking for.
     
    "While we still seek a permanent policy change that enables all religious minorities to freely serve without exception, we are pleased with the progress that this new policy represents for religious tolerance and diversity by our nation's largest employer," said the coalition's legal director Harsimran Kaur.
     
    The new provisions updates rules governing religious liberty that significantly improve the standards for Sikhs and other religious minorities who seek to serve their country with their religious articles of faith intact, she said.
     
     
    Under the new policy, Brigade commanders must grant religious accommodations for unshorn beards, unshorn hair, turbans and Muslim hijabs unless the requestor's religious belief is not sincere or the army identifies a specific, concrete hazard.
     
    Last week, the New York Police Department (NYPD), in a move aimed at inclusiveness, said it will allow its Sikh officers to wear turbans and maintain beards.
     
    According to the latest regulation, accommodations must be granted across all duty positions except in certain limited circumstances.
     
     
    The army intends to conduct additional testing for the use of protective equipment by bearded soldiers.
     
    "The Sikh articles of faith have always been consistent with the best of American values and we are pleased that the burden no longer rests with Sikh soldiers to prove this through a lengthy administrative process," said Amandeep Sidhu, partner at McDermott Will and Emery.
     
    In 1981, a prohibitive ban was placed on Sikh-American soldiers.
     
    Last year, four Sikh-American soldiers, including the decorated Captain Simratpal Singh, filed a lawsuit against the US Army in this regard.
     
     
    "My turban and beard represent my commitment to pluralism and equality. This policy change underscore's the military's commitment to these values and is a sign of meaningful progress that will ensure the strength of our democracy," said Major Kalsi, who was the first Sikh-American in more than a generation to be allowed to serve in the US military without violating his articles of faith.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian-Origin Dentist Banned For Having Affair With Married Patient In UK

    Indian-Origin Dentist Banned For Having Affair With Married Patient In UK
    Dr Parag Patel's case came up before a UK General Dental Council (GDC) misconduct hearing this week over his conduct with the female patient, referred to only as Patient 1.

    Indian-Origin Dentist Banned For Having Affair With Married Patient In UK

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women
    The East African country is notorious for anti-LGBTQ laws which criminalize same-sex relations. After Kambugu was outed by a tabloid, she went into hiding, relying on her family to bring food and supplies.

    Docs 'The Pearl' And 'the Pearl Of Africa' Chronicle Lives Of Transgender Women

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey
    Nearly 2.3 million people in the UK regret voting for Brexit from the EU in last week's historic referendum, a trend which has come to be referred to as "Bregret", a new survey said today.

    'Bregret' After 'Brexit': Nearly 2.3 Million Britons Regret Voting For 'Leave' Says Survey

    Malala Yousafzai Becomes Millionaire With Book Sales, Lectures

    Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and her family have become millionaires as a result of income from her memoir describing life under Taliban rule in Pakistan's picturesque Swat valley and appearances on the lecture circuit around the world.

    Malala Yousafzai Becomes Millionaire With Book Sales, Lectures

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely
    The US today asked China to protect religious freedom and allow citizens to worship freely amid reports that the Communist country had banned fasting in its Muslim-dominated Xinjiang region.

    US Asks China To Allow Muslim Citizens To Worship Freely

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK
    A 31-year-old Indian-origin web manager charged with siphoning off nearly 100,000 pounds from his boss' firm is facing jail in the UK.

    Indian-Origin Web Expert Faces Jail For Fraud In UK