American Sikh organisations have voiced their deep disappointment with the new Pentagon instructions on “religious accommodation” for US service personnel, arguing that the announcement effectively continues the ban on Sikh articles of faith.
While stating that military departments will henceforth accommodate religious requests of service members, the Pentagon stipulated that such accommodation should not have an “adverse effect on military readiness, mission accomplishment, unit cohesion and good order and discipline”.
The Pentagon made it clear on Tuesday that the relaxation would not only be on a case-by-case basis, but also subject to a determination “if religious apparel interferes with military duties” and whether it, among other things, “poses a health or safety hazard to the service member wearing the religious apparel”.
The Sikh bodies believe that the stipulations continue the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith, including the turban, given that the clause on health and safety hazard effectively mandates the wearing of safety helmets. Reacting to the Pentagon announcement, the New York-based Sikh Coalition said: “We are disappointed that the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith remains intact.”
“While the policy revisions announced today provide a framework through which Sikh soldiers may seek religious accommodation, we caution that uniform rules barring Sikh service remain intact,” it said, adding that Sikh Americans must still go through a lengthy and uncertain administrative process before being approved or denied the opportunity to serve their country with their religiously-mandated turbans and beards.
Pentagon spokesman Navy lt Cmdr Nathan J Christensen, while releasing the new instructions, said the defence officials will balance the religious need of the service member against the need to accomplish the military mission. He, however, said a religious request would be denied “only if an official determines that mission accomplishment needs outweigh the need of the service member” after a case-by-case assessment of such requests.
The spokesman maintained that the instructions would enhance the ability of commanders and supervisors to promote the climate needed to maintain good order and discipline, and would reduce the instances and perception of religious discrimination.
leaders of the Washington-based Sikh American legal Defense and Education Fund viewed the new instructions essentially as an extension of the current policy rather than one effecting a meaningful change.
“This is an expansion of the waiver policy that is decided person by person. It does not open doors and say you can apply as a Sikh American and serve your country fully,” the fund’s executive director Jasjit Singh told The Washington Post, adding: “Unfortunately, this (policy) continues to make us have to choose between our faith and serving our country.”