July 10, 20009 (Washington, D.C.) Over the past 5 weeks, the U.S. Army has responded to the Sikh Coalition's legal filings. The fact that the Army is reviewing these filings indicates that the Military is considering the possibility of allowing Sikhs to serve with our articles of faith. We continue to fight for Captains Kamaljeet S. Kalsi and Tejdeep S. Rattan to ensure that they do not have to choose between their faith and ability to serve.

Coalition's Initial Filings
The legal team (comprised of the Coalition's legal program and its pro bono partner, the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP) filed two internal complaints for each Sikh.  They were:

1. An appeal of the Army's denial of the Sikhs' requests for religious accommodation of their articles of faith.  (This appeal is proceeding internally within the U.S. Army chain of command.)
2. A complaint with the Offices of the Inspectors General for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense.
   

The US Army Responds
The legal team has received an initial response regarding each complaint. 

1. The religious accommodation appeals were forwarded to the Commander of the Human Resources Command of the U.S. Army.  On May 29, 2009, the Human Resources Command indicated that the Sikhs' requests violated existing Army Regulations, and in turn forwarded the appeals to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1.  The legal team currently is awaiting a response from this command level.
2. On April 22, 2009, the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Army indicated that its authority is currently limited to ensuring that the Sikhs' due process rights are met through the religious accommodation appeal process.
   

Background
Cpts. Kalsi and Rattan were part of an Army program that pays for medical education in return for military service. At the time of their enrollment, military recruiters assured both men that their turbans and unshorn hair "would not be a problem."

Cpts. Kalsi and Rattan maintained their Sikh identity throughout graduate school, during specialized Army training, at Army ceremonies, and in Army medical facilities.  Years later, the Army is now telling the two Sikhs that the recruiters' assurances were false and that they will have to forsake their religious practices in order to continue serving.


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If you have a similar story or know of a Sikh who has served in the U.S. military, please contact us. The more evidence we can gather, the stronger claim we can make to support the "Sikh Right to Serve."

In addition to information gathering, the Coalition is also currently working with Members of Congress to garner their assistance in persuading the Army to end their policy of Sikh exclusion.  Thus far, three U.S. Congressmembers have asked Secretary Gates to allow Sikh soldiers to serve with their articles of faith intact.

We would like to thank the community for supporting this campaign by signing the Army petition and giving financial support.  Your support has reminded our government officials to remain accountable to the Sikh community's concerns.  Your continued support is invaluable to ensuring our right to practice our faith is protected in all segments of American life.

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly.  If someone tells you to remove your articles of faith, please report the incident.

 The Sikh Coalition is a community-based organization that works towards the realization of civil and human rights for all people. The Coalition serves as a resource on Sikhs and Sikh concerns for governments, organizations and individuals.

The Sikh Coalition relies on your financial support to sustain its initiatives and broaden its services. In addition to supporting the Sikh Coalition directly, we encourage you to use matching donation programs offered by many employers. The Sikh Coalition is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. Thank you for your support.

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