Dr. B. graduated from medical school with his tuition paid by the U.S. military, and was therefore obligated to serve in the military. As a Muslim whose religion prohibits shaving, he wore a beard during medical school. However, upon becoming a military officer and beginning his residency at a military hospital, regulations required him to shave. We believed he had a good claim for accommodation under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the government from “substantially burden[ing] a person’s exercise of religion” unless it demonstrates that the burden “(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.” We assisted him in requesting a religious waiver from the Pentagon, which was granted for the duration of his residency.
Dr. B
Date filed
May 1, 2009
Status
Victory!
Related Issues
Documents
Related content
Benjamin v. Colbert – Challenging D.C. Jail’s Failure to Provide...
August 10, 2023ACLU-D.C. Files Religious Freedom Lawsuit Against the D.C....
August 10, 2023Neloms v. District of Columbia – Challenging D.C. DMV’s Telework...
January 10, 2023![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/pr_-victory.png?itok=7W2rn3gO)
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Political Speech Restrictions on...
August 16, 2022![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/carousel_slide/dc_jail-hp.jpg?itok=sFeY7pNl)
ACLU-DC Statement on the Department of Corrections Change in...
January 7, 2022TSA Reinstates Employee with Full Back Pay and Clean Record After...
December 2, 2021![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/deonj.jpeg?itok=CZgwPHiQ)
D.C. Corrections Officer Challenges Hostile Anti-Gay Workplace at D...
November 17, 2021![](https://www.acludc.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_130x110/public/field_image/deonj.jpeg?itok=CZgwPHiQ)