On May 11, 2011, the ACLU of New Mexico filed charges with the New Mexico Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Española Hospital and Presbyterian Health Services for religious discrimination. Sahaj Singh Khalsa, who lives in the Espanola ashram community, alleges that while employed as a paramedic at Española Hospital, coworkers and hospital administration actively discriminated against him because of his religion, making disparaging remarks, threats and, in one incident, physically assaulting him. Having exhausted every reasonable option, Sahaj Singh was forced to resign in December 2010.
“Religious tolerance and accommodation are core American values,” said ACLU of New Mexico Managing Attorney Laura Schauer Ives. “Discriminating against an employee because of his or her faith is not just illegal; it’s wrong. It goes against everything we stand for as Americans.”
Sahaj Singh has been practicing the Sikh faith since he was born, including his uncut beard and hair, and wearing a turban. “All I wanted was do my job helping people in my community get the urgent medical care they needed,” said Sahaj Singh. “My Sikh religion did not prevent me from performing that job, but the prejudice of my supervisors did.”
We offer our prayers and support to Sahaj Singh as he takes a stand against religious discrimination. Please take action by clicking here: www.saldef.org/news/sahajsingh/#more-5162 to send an automatic email to the Presbyterian Hospital urging them to accept religious diversity in their workplace.
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