California to let Sikh prisoners keep beards
June 11th, 2011 - 10:17 am ICT by IANSWashington, June 11 (IANS) California has agreed to allow prisoners in the state to keep unshorn beards in accordance with their faith, according to the Sikh Coalition, a community advocacy group.
The change follows settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Sikh Coalition against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on behalf of Sukhjinder Singh Basra, a Sikh inmate.
Under the settlement Basra’s disciplinary record for refusing to cut his beard will be expunged. An otherwise model inmate, Basra suffered repeated disciplinary sanctions for keeping his religiously-mandated beard uncut, the group said.
The settlement protects not just Sikhs, but inmates of all faiths who maintain religiously-mandated beards. Under its terms, CDCR will repeal a rule prohibiting inmates from growing facial hair more than a half inch in length.
“Basra was peaceably observing his faith while posing absolutely no threat to the health and safety of the prison population,” said Daniel Mach, director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Programme on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
“We are glad that the CDCR has recognized the fundamental importance of basic religious exercise, even within the prison walls.”
“This victory underscores the bedrock principle of religious freedom upon which this country was founded,” said Harsimran Kaur, Legal Director of the Sikh Coalition.
“The right to practice one’s faith free from government interference applies to everyone, including religious minorities like Sikhs.”
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
- US civil liberties groups back Sikh rights - Jan 28, 2011
- First US Sikh soldier completes training with faith intact - Nov 11, 2010
- US allows Sikh security officers to wear turban and beard - Oct 21, 2009
- Indian-American Sikh wins $295,000 for job denial - Oct 28, 2011
- Sikhs in turbans can now serve Washington police - May 17, 2012
- Religion-based protection for workers in New York - Sep 03, 2011
- US Muslim body seeks probe on attack on Sikh - Dec 06, 2011
- Campaign to end ban on Sikhs joining US army - Apr 15, 2009
- World Turban Day to honour Sikh identity - Apr 13, 2010
- US auto parts retailer settles lawsuit with Sikh employee - Apr 12, 2012
- FBI urged to check hate crimes against Sikh-Americans - Apr 20, 2012
- US army accepts first Sikh recruit - Oct 24, 2009
- US Army gets its first Sikh graduate in 25 years - Mar 23, 2010
- New York Sikh, Muslim workers allowed religious headwear - May 31, 2012
- Sikh with turban taken back in US Army - Dec 12, 2009
Tags: american civil liberties, american civil liberties union, arun kumar, bedrock principle, california department of corrections, california department of corrections and rehabilitation, civil liberties union, community advocacy group, department of corrections and rehabilitation cdcr, disciplinary record, disciplinary sanctions, freedom of religion, government interference, growing facial hair, legal director, prison population, prison walls, religion and belief, religious exercise, religious minorities