EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Muslim Recruit Demands Exemption from Saluting American Flag—'I Only Praise Allah' (

[rangerrebew]

EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Muslim Recruit Demands Exemption from Saluting American Flag—'I Only Praise Allah' (RAIR TV)
 Amy MekJanuary 3, 2026

Tonight on RAIR TV, we report on a development that would have been unthinkable in American policing just a decade ago.

An NYPD recruit currently training at the police academy has reportedly requested a religious exemption from saluting the American flag—asserting that his Islamic beliefs prohibit him from doing so because he may only praise Allah.

According to retired NYPD Lieutenant John Macari Jr., an anonymous law-enforcement source confirmed that the recruit submitted a formal “reasonable accommodation” request seeking exemption from a mandatory requirement for uniformed officers. NYPD policy is explicit: saluting the American flag is a required civic act and a condition of service for all officers. It is not religious worship. It is not optional.

The request raises a fundamental issue for law enforcement in the United States: whether Islamic doctrine is now being allowed to override core symbols, standards, and obligations of American service.

https://rairfoundation.com/nypd-muslim-recruit-demands-exemption-saluting-american-flag/

[rangerrebew]

Hello, American cities!  What next?  Exemptions from helping Jews and "people of the book?"  Refusing to help restaurants that don't serve only Halal meals?  Not arresting Muslims?  Allow arresting people who don't fast during Ramadan?  Hire them, and it will come.

[Mod2]

Moved to NY category

[DefiantMassRINO]

He has the right to not salute the flag, but he does not have a right to a public salary.

When you salute the American flag you are saluting the sacrifice of all those who have given their lives so we may be free.

[Fishrrman]

Go on, snarl, snark and rage.
But...
This muslim NYPD recruit may be "the first of more to come..."
Perhaps many more...

Once again, I'll remind you:
On what book did the new mayor of NYC swear his oath of office...?

[Kamaji]

I believe that Jehovahs Witnesses are also constitutionally exempt from saluting the flag.  So he’s probably on fairly firm ground.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

I believe that Jehovahs Witnesses are also constitutionally exempt from saluting the flag.  So he’s probably on fairly firm ground.

That was my first thought and you are right!

"In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), the Supreme Court overturned its previous ruling in Gobitis. The Court held that compelling students to salute the flag was unconstitutional. This decision marked a significant shift towards prioritizing individual liberties over governmental interests in national unity through compelled expression."

https://legalclarity.org/what-caused-the-supreme-court-to-overturn-mandatory-flag-salutes/

[jafo2010]

Well, fine, he is not required to salute the flag, but then again, the City of New York is not required to continue his education at the academy.  BOUNCE THE MUSLIM TURD NOW!!!

[Kamaji]

Well, fine, he is not required to salute the flag, but then again, the City of New York is not required to continue his education at the academy.  BOUNCE THE MUSLIM TURD NOW!!!

That would be retaliation for his exercise of his Constitutional rights, which is also not permitted.  They’ll have to find some merit-based reason to dismiss him. 

[txradioguy]

That would be retaliation for his exercise of his Constitutional rights, which is also not permitted.  They’ll have to find some merit-based reason to dismiss him.

How is it a "constitutional right" of a sworn uniformed member of the NYPD to not salute the flag of the country of which he is a citizen?

[Kamaji]

How is it a "constitutional right" of a sworn uniformed member of the NYPD to not salute the flag of the country of which he is a citizen?

Most likely because saluting flag is a form of demonstrative speech and doesn’t go to the substantive performance of his duties; therefore, being required to salute a flag as part of your duties is compelled political speech, which is generally not permitted. 

The Jehovah’s Witnesses litigated the basic issue earlier up to the Supreme Court.

[txradioguy]

Most likely because saluting flag is a form of demonstrative speech and doesn’t go to the substantive performance of his duties; therefore, being required to salute a flag as part of your duties is compelled political speech, which is generally not permitted. 

The Jehovah’s Witnesses litigated the basic issue earlier up to the Supreme Court.

I'm calling BS on that because if that were the case then soldiers could refuse to salute the American flag as well.

[Kamaji]

I'm calling BS on that because if that were the case then soldiers could refuse to salute the American flag as well.

No, it’s not a matter of what personal convenience, it’s a matter of bona fide personal belief.  Go read the damned case law and leave your biases at the door.

[txradioguy]

No, it’s not a matter of what personal convenience, it’s a matter of bona fide personal belief.  Go read the damned case law and leave your biases at the door.

Like with the military when you join a law enforcement agency those "personal beliefs" get left at the door because of the job you signed up to do.

One of the biggest problems we have in society...not just communities like law enforcement or the military is the lack of assimilation into the American culture.  We've allowed people to come here and allow balkanization to settle in.  It's why the oath of allegiance by new citizens is read in whatever language they spoke in the country they were born in instead of English only.  It's why every little liberal accommodation to "personal beliefs" has been allowed to creep into every aspect of our society and rot the American experience.


That "damned case law" you want me to read...was written by judges who clearly didn't leave their "biases" at the door when they wrote it.


And as was stated in the OP...

NYPD policy is explicit: saluting the American flag is a required civic act and a condition of service for all officers. It is not religious worship. It is not optional.

Sounds like the one that needs to check their biases at the door...is you.