DDHK News, United States - Muslim United States welcomes the Pentagon (US Department of Defense) policy that allows Muslim soldiers to wear headscarves and maintain beards. This is seen as a step forward in respecting the beliefs of Muslims.
"We welcome the landmark decision to expand the religious rights of American military personnel," said a statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) District of Columbia. onislam.net.
"We hope this will enable all people in military uniforms to practice their religion while still serving the nation."
The Pentagon's policy on military uniforms was announced Wednesday, January 22, 2013. Streamlining uniform rules, the Pentagon is now open to allowing American soldiers to wear turbans, skullcaps, beards, and tattoos.
"Under the new policy, the military will make every effort to accommodate individual religious expression, unless it negatively impacts military readiness, unit cohesion, and order and discipline," the Pentagon said in a statement.
CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said the new rules would reduce the incidence of Muslim soldiers being harassed or reprimanded by superiors for wearing beards or headscarves.
"What we are seeing is not a revolution, but an evolution in military policy," Hooper said. "This sends the message that the American military is getting friendly towards religious minorities."
The number of Muslims in America is estimated to be between six and eight million. According to the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, there are currently more than 20.000 Muslims in the American army. (mel / onislam.net / localhost / project / personal / ddhongkong.org / ddhongkong.org). *
