The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Army on behalf of a Sikh ROTC applicant who was denied a religious exemption.
Iknoor Singh, a 19-year old Hofstra University student, will be represented by the ACLU in a lawsuit filed in D.C. on Nov. 12.
Mr. Singh’s religion requires him to wear a turban and grow his hair to lengths that are not in accordance with U.S. Army regulations. The ACLU lawsuit charges that the military’s requirement that he cut his hair and remove his turban are at odds with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Newsday reported.
The student told Newsday that he knows of two other Sikhs who in the Army who have been given an exemption. Such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
“They had absolutely no problem getting a helmet on” while wearing turbans, Mr. Singh told the website.
Lt. Col. Alayne Conway, an Army spokesman, told Newsday that he could not comment due to pending litigation.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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