Cuffe Calls For An End To Garda Turban Ban

The Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe has called for an end to the turban ban on those serving in An Garda Siochana.

Mr Cuffe told reporters that he has written to Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy calling for the ban to be ended.

"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," he said.

"In my opinion, the wearing of a turban would in no way impinge upon the operational effectiveness of a member of the force."

Police forces in the U.K., U.S., Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan and India allow the wearing of turbans, as does the United Nations for Sikh soldiers on U.N. peacekeeping missions.

"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," he continued.

"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 requires all its officers to wear standard issue uniform while on duty.

"This policy is in keeping with the National Action Plan Against Racism and the organisation's commitment to following an intercultural approach," a spokesperson for the Garda said.

Mr. Cuffe's letter comes after a Sikh man began training to join the Garda Reserve.

He was first told that their would not be a problem with wearing a turban, but a senior officer later warned him that he would have to take it off when he was on duty. As a result, the Sikh has said he will no longer be taking up his post on the Garda Reserve.

The Irish Sikh Council condemned the garda rules insisting that they increase the divide between immigrant communities and the police.

The London-based Metropolitan Police Sikh Association (MPSA), accused the gardaí of racism, saying that "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."

"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 concluded.