For Immediate Release December 6, 2005 Contact: Kavneet Singh info@saldef.org 202-393-2700 SALDEF Urges Passage of Religious Freedom Legislation Washington, DC – Last month the House Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations held a briefing on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005 (WRFA). This piece of legislation would provide greater protection against discrimination for people of faith. WRFA will require employers to reasonably accommodate the religious needs of their employees in the workplace. Typical examples covered by WRFA include allowing for religious clothing (such as turbans, yarmulkes, and head-scarves) and for flexible scheduling arrangements to facilitate holiday observances (such as agreeing to work on another holiday in order to observe Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year). “Sikh men are already being discriminated against due to the American public not knowing who they are,” stated Congressman Mark E. Souder (R-IN), co-sponsor of the bill, in a statement proclaiming the need for such legislation to be passed. The hearing was preceded by a Press Conference organized by the Work Place Religious Freedom Coalition, of which SALDEF is an active member. “Since September 11, 2001 Sikh Americans have been mistakenly associated with terrorism and criminal activity,” stated SALDEF Associate Director Rajbir Singh Datta. “Unfortunately this perception has made its way into our nation’s places of employment and the threat of increased discrimination continues to persist.” Mr. Datta added, “Sikhs have been terminated from their jobs due to their turbans, beards, and/or articles of faith. As Americans, we all must advocate for religious freedom everywhere, because people of faith must never be told to check their religion at the door.” Testifying at the briefing were; House co-sponsors Congressman Souder (R-IN) and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); along with a second panel including, Richard Foltin, Esq., Legislative Director and Counsel, American Jewish Committee; Dr. Richard Land, President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention; Samuel A. Marcosson, Associate Dean and Professor of Law, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law; and Camille A. Olson, Esq., Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP. If you would like to learn more about this bill or SALDEF’s efforts in protection religious liberties for all Americans, please, contact us at info@saldef.org. To view a partial list of SALDEF’s past legislative efforts, please see below: SALDEF Conducts Congressional Visits on Religious Freedoms Legislation SALDEF Congratulates House for Passing Hate Crimes Bill SALDEF Testifies at California Assembly Hearings about Sikh Americans SALDEF Welcomes Senate Approval of Strengthened Hate Crimes Legislation
