London, August 26
A Sikh organisation in Ireland is planning to challenge a ban on Sikhs in a volunteer reserve police force from wearing the turban while on duty.
A qualified Sikh IT professional had decided to join the Garda Reserve, a volunteer reserve section of Ireland's police force Garda Siochana, but was told he could not wear his turban while on duty.
The Irish Sikh Council said Saturday that it was in touch with representatives of a New York Police Department Sikh officer who successfully overturned a similar ban in the New York police force.
President of the Sikh council, Harpreet Singh, said the council intended to take necessary steps in the matter, Sunday Business Post has reported.
Turbans are worn by Sikh police officers elsewhere, most notably the London Metropolitan Police.
In June, Sikhs in France filed a case before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg challenging a French law that demands that turbans be taken off while being photographed for identity cards.
— IANS
