By Admin 
The new grooming policy of the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) has created deep concern in religious communities. According to the memo issued by the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the religious exemption to shave in the army has almost been abolished. This means that soldiers who shared the soldiers on religious grounds, such as Sikhs, Muslims and Jews, can now be in danger.
Under the new policy, the army has been ordered to return to rigorous standards before 2010. That is, the beard exemption will be considered “generally not allowed”. This decision is reminiscent of the strict military discipline policy of the 1981 Supreme Court case Goldman vs. Venberger. Addressing more than 800 senior officials in Marine Corps Base Quantico on 30 September, Hegseth said, “We do not have an army of Nordic Pagan.” Hours after this speech, instructions were issued to all branches that almost all beard exemptions including religious discounts should be abolished in the next 60 days. This policy leaves temporary discounts only for special forces, which is given for the purpose of dissolving in the local population.
Sikh community sharp reaction
This decision first shook the Sikh community. The Sikh Coolition, which advocates the rights of Sikh soldiers in the US Army, described it as a betrayal with the fight for years of inclusion. In Sikhism, hairstyle (Acute child) is an integral part of identity. A Sikh soldier wrote on the social media platform X that my hair is my identity. This sounds like a betrayal after the fight for inclusion. ”Sikhs’ association with the US Army is not new.
In 1917, Bhagat Singh Thind was the first Sikh to be allowed to serve by wearing a turban. In 2011, Rabbi Menchem Stern and in 2016 Captain Simratpal Singh won the victory of his religious rights in the courts. In the Singh vs Burger case of 2022, the court again confirmed the rights of the beard and turban of Sikh soldiers. Sikh Coalition says that keeping a beard is not a hindrance in military service as Sikh soldiers have passed gas masks tests.
Dissatisfaction in Muslim and Jewish communities too
The new policy has disturbed not only the Sikhs, but also Muslims and orthodox Jewish soldiers. It is a religious responsibility to shave for the masculine soldiers, while it is part of their sacred tradition for the Jews. Counsel on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote a letter to the Defense Secretary and questioned whether the religious, Sikh and Juda Sainiks will be safe now? CAIR cited the first amendment of the US Constitution and said that Pentagon has been recognizing religious freedom for a long time.
Black soldiers and other groups are also affected
This policy is not only on religious grounds, but also in a racial point of dispute. Black soldiers were often given medical exemption to shave due to a skin disease called “Psudo Foliculitis Barbe”. Now this exemption will not be permanent under the new policy. According to the report of the intercept, this rule can promote the culture of boycott on the basis of religion and race. The soldiers have also described this policy against their religious beliefs.
Is this policy a step against inclusion?
Many human rights organizations and religious groups believe that this decision is against the diversity of the US Army and the spirit of inclusion. Army Directive 2017, released in 2017, had arranged permanent exemption for Sikhs, Muslims and Jews. Now the overturning of this policy can affect not only religious freedom, but also a sense of trust in the army and equality.
Also read: Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s first woman Prime Minister will become Sane Takaichi! LDP won the election of president; How is thinking about India?