SHILO, Man. The first Sikh recruit in the Canadian Armed Forces was handed an honorary discharge on July 18 after his refusal to wear a helmet over his turban during artillery training
“I feel so sad and I will not accept this because T should have my right to fight for Canadian Armed Forces because this is my country,” 21-year-old Ranjit Singh told a news conference at Canadian Forces Base Shilo.
Indian born Singh, who had completed a basic-training course in Cornwallis, N.S., was supposed to wear a helmet during a grenade throwing exercise that was part of an 1-week artillery course at this southwestern Manitoba base. He accompanied his troop and commanding officers far assign that prohibited recruits from advancing unless they wore helmet or
Turn back.
Brig. Gen. Terry Liston said from Ottawa that the army has done everything possible in accommodate Sigh beliefs, but it won’t allow religious requirements to put member’s lives at risk.
Singh, who came to Canada in 1980, expressed anger that his father did not have to wear a helmet during 38 years of service with the British and Indian Amy.
Defense department officials had grappled with the issue for several months, studying the policies of the armed forces in the U.S., Indian Britain and Australia, On July 18 the department made the final decision to keep its helmet wearing rule in place. Officials had suggested earlier that a smaller turban be worn to fit under a helmet, but Singh, an orthodox Sikh, refused. Liston said earlier that Sikhs in the Indian Air Force who are required to wear helmets and oxygen masks were agreed to wear a smaller cloth on their head and wrap it more tightly around their hair. Under a 1979 amendment to Armed Forces policy, Singh was allowed to wear a beard, as well as Join cloth, iron bracelet, hair comb, turban and ceremonial dagger — also known as a kirpan.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 1, 1986
