U.S. Justice Dept. sues Philly school district over beard-length rule
Alex Wigglesworth, PHILLY.COM
Last updated: Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 7:23 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the School District of Philadelphia, claiming a rule regulating the length of employees’ beards constitutes religious discrimination.
According to the suit filed Wednesday, the district in October 2010 instituted a new grooming policy preventing school police officers and security guards from having beards longer than a quarter of an inch.
School police officer Siddiq Abu-Bakr maintained an untrimmed beard for the 27 years he worked at the district, the suit states. Abu-Bakr is a member of the Islamic faith, which he says requires that he not cut his beard.
When Abu-Bakr notified his supervisor his religious beliefs precluded him from complying with the new policy, he was allegedly issued a written reprimand cautioning that continued violation of the rule would result in “further disciplinary action.”
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/US_.html#5pz4oOkg3cUf5dhy.99
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/US_.html
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