Three Sikh soldiers file suit against US govt

WANT TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO COMPROMISE WITH THEIR ARTICLES OF FAITH LIKE TURBAN AND BEARD

WASHINGTON: 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 have demanded that the army should accommodate their religious articles of faith, including turbans, unshorn 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 free- ly while serving their nation,” said the Sikh Coalition’s legal director, 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 CPT Singh’s landmark religious accommodation request is due by March 31. “We would like the opportunity, like every other American, to proudly serve,” said Kanwar Singh, who enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.