New York Allows Headgear for Sikh, Muslim Transit Employees

The MTA had enforced after the 9/11 attacks, Sikh and Muslim workers were forced to either brand their religious headdress with the agency’s logo or forced to work out of public view. The MTA had cited security concerns after 9/11 as the reason for its “brand or segregate” policy and insisted the new policy was necessary despite Sikh and Muslim employees working successfully at Transit Authority for decades.

 Beginning in March 2002, the agency began to selectively enforce the new headgear policies against Muslim and Sikh employees.

 The Sikh Coalition hailed the judgment saying Sikh and Muslim workers would now be able to wear their religious headdress freely -- as they did before 9/11 -- without fear of segregation or discipline.

 “We’re glad that this sad chapter in our city’s reaction to 9/11 has come to an end,” said Amardeep Singh, Programme Director of the Sikh Coalition.

 “Innocent Sikh and Muslim workers were essentially punished and segregated for the events of that day. We are ready to turn the page now and are particularly pleased that procedures are in place that better protect the rights of all, not just Muslims and Sikhs, at the MTA,” Singh said.

 “I am relieved that the policy of branding or segregating Sikh or Muslim workers is coming to an end,” said plaintiff Sat Hari Singh, who also went by the name of Kevin Harrington.

 “The MTA honored me for driving my train in reverse away from the towers on 9/11 and leading passengers to safety. They called me a ‘hero of 9/11.’ I didn’t have a corporate logo on my turban on 9/11. This policy made no sense. It was driven by fear. I’m glad it has come to an end,” Singh, a Sikh train operator, said.