Sikh IRS Agent’s Religious Sword Claim Revived

An Internal Revenue Service agent in Texas who was fired after she began wearing a kirpan—a religious sword—to work after converting to the Sikh faith may have a discrimination claim under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held Nov. 13 (Tagore v. United States, 2013 BL 315001, 5th Cir., 12-20214, 11/13/13).

Reviving Kawaljeet Tagore’s case, the appeals court said more evidence was required for a determination of whether her religious-based need to carry a kirpan longer than 2.5 inches was entitled to an exception from 18 U.S.C. §930, ...