Three Sikh soldiers on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the department of defence seeking to serve in the US armed forces without being forced to compromise with their articles of faith like turbans, u
Three Sikh soldiers on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the department of defence seeking to serve in the US armed forces without being forced to compromise with their articles of faith like turbans, unshorn hair and beards.
In the lawsuit, Specialist Kanwar Singh, Specialist Harpal Singh and Private Arjan Singh Ghotra demand that the Army accommodate their religious articles of faith, including turbans, unsh-orn hair and beards, so that each can begin basic combat training with their various units in May.
The lawsuit was filed by the Sikh Coalition, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and McDermott Will & Emery, after the US department of defence ignored a written demand letter that was sent on March 23.
“We had hoped that we would not have to file a second lawsuit on behalf of three more Sikh American soldiers, who simply want to practice their faith freely while serving their nation,” said the Sikh Coalition’s legal director, Ms Harsimran Kaur.
“However, the defence department has remained unresponsive to their requests for accommodation and the clock is ticking. Action must be taken,” she alleged.
The new lawsuit follows the March 4 federal court ruling that the Army was prohibited from subjecting a decorated Sikh American soldier, Captain Simratpal Singh, to discriminatory testing.
A final Army decision regarding Capt. Singh’s landmark religious acco-mmodation request is due by March 31.
“We would like the opportunity, like every other American, to proudly serve,” said Mr Kanwar Singh, who enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
“I look forward to joining my battalion for training and making the diverse state of Massachusetts proud,” he said.
Spc. Harpal Singh, a California telecommunications engineering specialist, was recruited by the US Army Reserve for his foreign language skills.
Pvt. Arjan Singh Ghotra, who is 17, enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard and is slated to attend basic training before attending George Mason University this fall, the statement said.
