When gardai began a drive in 2005 to recruit non-Irish nationals into the reserve force, representatives from the community met with the authorities and outlined the dress code for Sikhs, the council claims. "We are very surprised by the Garda stance, " said council spokesman Satwinder Singh. "In 2005, we made representations to the gardai down in Templemore and told them about the dress code and dietary requirements for Sikhs. They told us, 'we don't see any reason why the turban should be a problem'."

A Garda spokesman yesterday said all members were required to wear standard issue uniform when on operational duties. He declined to comment any further on the Sikh council's claim that gardai previously indicated that turbans would be permitted.

The junior minister with responsibility for integration, Conor Lenihan, has already met with the Sikh man to discuss the situation, and the Irish Sikh Council now plans to seek another meeting with Lenihan, according to Singh.

"He is going to fight for his right to wear the turban. He just cannot work without his turban. It would be like asking him to remove his head, " he said.

Lenihan has publicly supported the garda stance that all members of the force are required to wear standard issue uniforms. The Irish Sikh Council yesterday criticised the decision and said that police forces in other countries, such as the UK, US, Singapore, Malaysia, Pakistan and India, allow members to wear turbans. Sikhs also fought in the two world wars wearing the headgear. "This man has gone through all his training wearing the turban but when he was given his uniform to begin officially, he was told it was not allowed. Other countries have put the force's emblem on the turban and have had it match the uniform colours, " said Singh. "Part of what Sikhs believe in is a fulfilment of our moral obligation. That is why many Sikhs here, although we are a small community, want to join the garda reserve."