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Press Release: Justice 21 August 2007
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21 August 2007
Cuffe calls for Gardaí to
reverse turban ruling
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Green Party Equality spokesperson
Ciarán Cuffe TD today called on An Garda Síochána to reverse its
recent ruling which prohibits a Sikh recruit to the Garda Reserve
from wearing a turban as part of his uniform.
Deputy Cuffe said: "I am calling on the Garda authorities to
review this ruling, and have written today to Commissioner Noel
Conroy requesting him to do so. I informed him that in my opinion it
does not meet with international best practice. This decision is in
complete contrast to the positions of other reserve forces, such as
the London Metropolitan Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, who allow Sikh members to wear their turbans. Police forces
in the UK , USA, Singapore , Malaysia, Pakistan and India have no
problem in allowing the wearing of turbans.
"The turban is a vital part of the rules of the Sikh religion. Sikh
men are prohibited from cutting their hair or appearing in public
without the turban. In my opinion, the wearing of a turban would in
no way impinge upon the operational effectiveness of a member of the
force."
The London-based Metropolitan Police Sikh Association has accused
the Garda Síochána of 'racial discrimination' in their decision,
saying it "did not support community cohesion, diversity and
tolerance of other faiths." |
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