The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Pentagon to affirm that it will protect the religious rights of all military personnel by maintaining religious accommodations for Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and others in the wake of a “no beards” policy announced today by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In his address today to military leaders, Hegseth said “no more beards…we’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards and adhere to standards.”
Video: Hegseth Announces New ‘No Beards’ Policy
[NOTE: A directive issued in August on this issue made no mention of a religious exemption, but a similar directive issued in July did.]
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“The First Amendment guarantees military personnel the right to practice their faith – including the right of Muslim, Sikh and Jewish personnel to grow beards or cover their hair – as does established Pentagon policy. We call on the Pentagon to clarify and affirm that it will maintain the religious rights of all men and women in the military.”
In 2020, CAIR expressed support for the U.S. Air Force’s new guidelines allowing personnel to request a waiver to wear religious apparel, including turbans and hijabs (Islamic head scarves), and to grow beards for religious reasons.
In 2014, CAIR welcomed an updated Pentagon policy on religious accommodation for military personnel.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com