Officer Ikhbinder S. Bassin maintains job with articles of faith intact.
Bureau Report
NEW YORK: The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) has relented to accommodate Corrections Officer Ikhbinder S. Bassin’s keep his Sikh articles of faith, including his unshorn beard and kara.
Bassin has worked at ADC for almost a decade while maintaining an unshorn beard and wearing a kara. However, in late December 2012, ADC suddenly found him out of compliance with department regulations, which do not permit corrections officers to have beards longer than a ½ inch or to wear bracelets (except medical bracelets). Bassin was told he would be fired if he did not trim his beard or remove his kara within 10 days.
Bassin contacted the Sikh Coalition, who requested that ADC grant him a religious accommodation. ADC, however, denied the request and once again threatened to fire Officer Bassin if he did not comply by January 31st of this year.
The Sikh Coalition defended Bassin by sending legal letters to ADC threatening a lawsuit, filing a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, seeking 0intervention from the U.S. Department of Justice, engaged the office of an Arizona State Senator, consulted with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and solicited support letters from the Anti-Defamation League, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, and local Sikh leaders and elected officials.
The ADC finally relented and agreed to let Officer Bassin keep his job with a full religious accommodation to maintain an unshorn beard and a kara at all times.
In a statement, the Sikh Coalition thanked Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, State Senator Barbara McGuire, the Anti-Defamation League, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, and local Sikh leaders Rana S. Sodhi, Dr. Jaswant S. Sachdev, and Guru Roop Kaur Khalsa for their support, in helping Bassin uphold and maintain his religious traditions.