US bodies fight for religious rights of Sikh convict

CHANDIGARH: The alleged violation of the religious rights of a Sikh convict lodged in a prison in Arizona, the US, has prompted rights organizations to file a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In August 2020, Surjit Singh’s turban was allegedly taken from him and his “beard forcibly shaved” to comply with the rules of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR), Tucson. Though Singh cannot communicate in English and was not provided with an interpreter, he did protest at both the instances. He then lodged verbal and written complaints.
The ADCRR further threatened to allegedly shave Singh’s beard again due to their prohibition on inmates’ beard lengths longer than 1 inch.
The ADCRR remains unwilling to discuss policy changes that would provide accommodations to prisoners who maintain facial hair for religious reasons, said Singh, through a statement from his legal representatives.
“My faith remains deeply important to me, and incarcerated individuals have a right to our faith just like everyone else in this country,” said Singh. “I am simply asking that the Arizona Department of Corrections guarantee that I and others in my position are able to serve our sentences with dignity by respecting our religious beliefs,” he added.
The organizations who filed the complaint are Sikh Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona, ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief (PFRB), ACLU National Prison Project (NPP), an international law firm WilmerHale.
“All people, including those who are currently serving sentences in the criminal justice system, have a constitutionally protected right to the free exercise of their religion,” said Cindy Nesbit, Sikh Coalition, senior staff attorney. “Arbitrary policies of the ADCRR must not be allowed to further violate Singh’s religious rights or the rights of anyone else,” she added.