Gardaí urged to ditch 'racist' turban ban
Ciaran Cuffe of the Green Party has demanded An Garda Siochana scrap an allegedly racist rule which bans Sikh officers from wearing a turban on duty.
The London-based Metropolitan Police Sikh Association (MPSA) said An Garda Siochana’s uniform policy was 40 years behind the UK and accused it of racial discrimination.
Unless the rule is changed Sikhs in Ireland will have no confidence in the gardaí, the group said,
Mr Cuffe has written to Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy calling for the ban to be lifted.
“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,” Mr Cuffe said.
“In my opinion, the wearing of a turban would in no way impinge upon the operational effectiveness of a member of the force.”
Mr Cuffe said the ban does not meet international best practice.
Police forces in the UK, US, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan and India have no problem in allowing the wearing of turbans.
Sikh soldiers on United Nations peacekeeping missions have always been permitted to wear the turban.
“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,” Mr Cuffe said.
“I am calling on the garda authorities to review this ruling, and have written today to Commissioner Noel Conway requesting him to do so.”
An Garda Siochana has insisted all members were required to wear standard issue uniform when on operational duties.
“This policy is in keeping with the National Action Plan Against Racism and the organisation’s commitment to following an intercultural approach,” the force said.
The controversy surfaced after a Sikh man, an IT professional in his 20s, began training to join the Garda Reserve. Initially he was told wearing a turban would not be a problem but later a senior officer warned him if he wanted to go on duty in a station he would have to remove his turban.
The garda position has been supported by Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.
The Sikh man has said he will not be taking up his post on the Garda Reserve.
The Irish Sikh Council criticised the garda rules and warned it risks creating distances between immigrant communities and the indigenous population.
The MPSA accused the gardaí of racism.
“An Garda Siochana has racially discriminated against the Sikhs in their refusal to allow a Sikh officer to wear a turban as part of his police uniform,” the group said.
“Equally disconcerting is the fact that Minister of Integration has allowed this to happen. The question is not one of cultural integration, rather of religious rights and freedom to practise an individual’s faith, regardless of jurisdiction.
“Such decisions by the Garda do not support community cohesion, diversity, tolerance of other faiths and pluralism.
“What is most bizarre is that Ireland is aligning itself with a concept from the Middle East and not the West, by displaying intolerance for any other person’s religious belief to be practised in the workplace,” the group added.
Ciaran Cuffe on his call for the Turban to be allowed by members of the Gardaí while at work
