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US lawmakers urge Gates to allow Sikhs serve US army
WSN Network 

WASHINGTON: Two US lawmakers have written a "dear colleague" letter asking other Congressmen to write to the US defence secretary to allow Sikh youths to serve in the military with their turban.

"We are writing to request that you join us in signing the attached letter that we are sending to Secretary (Robert) Gates regarding a fundamental issue of fairness, justice, and religious freedom: the right of Sikh Americans to abide by their religious articles of faith while serving in the United States Armed Forces," wrote Congressmen Rodney Frelinghuysen and Carolyn Maloney in a dear colleague letter.

Frelinghuysen and Maloney said two commissioned army officers, Captain Kamaljeet S Kalsi and Captain Tejdeep S Rattan - from New Jersey and New York, respectively - were not being permitted to continue their service while wearing a turban and keeping an unshorn beard, both required tenets of the Sikh religion.

"Earlier this month, we sent letters to Secretary Gates regarding our respective constituents' requests for accommodation and urged him to reconsider the policies that prevent Sikh Americans from freely serving in our Armed Forces (enclosed)," they said.

22 July  2009
 

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