Iknoor Singh
By Frank Eltman
Associated Press
MINEOLA, New York (AP) — A Sikh university student has sued the U.S. Army, saying he cannot join the Reserve Officer Training Corps unless he violates his religious beliefs by removing his turban, shaving, and cutting his hair.
The group United Sikhs and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Iknoor Singh, a 19-year-old from the New York City borough of Queens.
Singh, who is studying finance and business analytics at Hofstra University, said he has had a lifelong interest in public service and began thinking of a military career several years ago.
Sikhism, a 500-year-old religion founded in India, requires its male followers to wear a turban and beard and keep their hair uncut.
Under a policy announced in January, troops can seek waivers on a case-by-case basis to wear religious clothing, seek prayer time, or engage in religious practices. Approval depends on where the service member is stationed and whether the change would affect military readiness or the mission. There are currently only a few Sikhs serving in the U.S. Army who have been granted religious accommodations.
But ACLU Attorney Heather Weaver said the only remedy offered to Singh is a Catch-22. He must comply with military rules and only then ask for a waiver that would allow him to wear his turban, beard, and long hair.
Singh is being permitted to audit the ROTC classes, said Lt. Col. Daniel Cederman, commander of Hofstra’s program, which trains students to become commissioned officers.
But Singh and his attorneys argue that he is not receiving credit for the classes, nor is he eligible for potential ROTC scholarships because he is not an actual enlistee. Weaver also said Singh will not be permitted to audit the classes after his sophomore year.
Lt. Col. Ben Garrett said in a statement that the Army does not comment on pending litigation. He said the service is “a diverse force with a long history of accommodating the religious practices of its members and the rights of soldiers to observe the tenets of their respective religions, or to observe no religion at all.”
A statement from Hofstra said it supports “Singh’s ambitions to serve his country. … We very much hope that the Army will permit us to enroll Mr. Singh in the program as a full cadet.” (end)