Court upholds Philly police ban on Muslim scarf

[The Straight Story]

Court upholds Philly police ban on Muslim scarf

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court has upheld the Philadelphia police department's ban on an officer wearing a Muslim head scarf on the job.

Kimberlie Webb, who has been on the force for more than a dozen years, filed a discrimination lawsuit in October 2005 after the department said the religious symbol violated uniform regulations. A federal judge ruled in the city's favor in 2007.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday sided with the police department, which said accommodating Webb would severely damage the department's appearance of "religious neutrality."

Webb's attorney, Jeffrey Pollock, said Wednesday he is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but he said "that's obviously a long shot." He says he is disappointed that the court declined to consider constitutional questions because they were not raised at trial.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090408_ap_courtupholdsphillypolicebanonmuslimscarf.html

[Bicoastal]

1. i actually agree with this...

If it was almost any other job, I'd probably be incensed.

But the separation of Church and State applies to all religions, not just Christianity. Cops shouldn't (and hopefully don't) wear visible yarmulkes or crosses on the job either.

[ZombieHorde]

2. Except for very cold weather, wearing a scarf seems like a poor idea for a police officer. nt

[Hekate]

3. Sigh. With few exceptions, a uniform is a uniform is a uniform. I agree with the court. nt

[MrSlayer]

4. As it should be.

Wear the proper uniform or quit.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. What the Qur'an says

is that a person (both men and women) should dress modestly, so as not to attract attention. I'm sure the uniform of the police force is modest, and isn't an officer allowed to always keep his or her hat on? So what is the problem?

(Spoken by a woman who dresses modestly and wears a baseball cap or newsboy's cap so as to not attract attention.)