NY Civil Liberties Union Sues Coast Guard Over Merchant Marine Religious Bias

Just two days after the New York Times reported that the U.S. Coast Guard is considering changing its policy prohibiting wearing of religious head coverings indoors while in uniform, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a related religious discrimination suit against the Coast Guard on behalf of Muslim ship worker Khalid Hakim. The suit involves Coast Guard requirements for licensing merchant marine crew members who serve on commercial ships. Newsday yesterday reported that the suit accuses the Coast Guard of requiring anyone seeking a merchant marine license to submit photographs showing himself or herself without a head covering. Before September 2001, Hakim regularly received licenses after submitting photographs in which he wore his Kufi (religious skull cap). After 9-11, the Coast Guard said Hakim would have to remove the kufi. However, without explanation, the Coast guard issued Hakim a new license shortly before the NYCLU suit was filed. The full text of the complaint in Hakim v. Chertoff, charging that Hakim's rights under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act were violated, is available online.