Christian Police discriminate agaist Muslims

POLICE BEARD POLICY SHOWS ANTI-MUSLIM BIAS - TOPImam Isa Abdulmateen, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/27/06http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/opinion/local2/region/13721929.htmThe Philadelphia Police Department's quarter-inch policy on beards is archaic, arbitrary and discriminatory against Muslims ("Police officer who refused to trim beard will be fired," Jan. 14).The policy is archaic because it was written many years ago by white Christian men who had no intention of allowing blacks, women or Muslims on the police force. Today, Muslims serve Philadelphia as school principals, dentists, state representatives, postal workers, and in many other ways. Philadelphia is home to tens of thousands of Muslims. A modern police force should not exclude Muslims.The policy is arbitrary because the wearing of a longer beard does not in any fashion hamper one's ability to serve as a police officer. Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson has said that the police are a paramilitary force, so they have to shave. Perhaps that is what's wrong with the Police Department. They think they are an army instead of public servants.Muslims bring credibility to the table because we have a historic record of benefiting our communities. If our youth saw more Muslim police officers, they would see someone they could talk to and trust to be fair. A Muslim police officer could mediate disputes and be respected because Muslims already do that.The policy is discriminatory because it forces Muslims to choose between their religion and their job. There is also a Muslim woman police officer who is being persecuted because she insists on covering her hair, as required by her faith.Commissioner Johnson has publicly opposed the wearing of longer beards and head coverings by Muslim officers. This is an odd stance since he has: Publicly supported a transgendered officer.Supported the reinstatement of a police supervisor who drove while intoxicated, crashed his car into a pillar, then conspired with a sergeant to cover it up.Refused to fire an officer who injured a minister at the airport, costing the city thousands of dollars in a lawsuit, and punched a court officer in front of a judge.Somehow, officers are constantly found to have beaten citizens unjustly, but they retain their jobs. Yet Muslim officers face firing because of beards and head scarves.It is time to change the antiquated police uniform policy to reflect Philadelphia's diversity and tolerance.Imam Isa Abdulmateen is the Chairman of the Majlis Ash Shura Justice and Integrity Division in Philadelphia.