Cut it out Cut it out

High Court puts kibosh on IDF beard ban

Army has until September 8 to respond to petition, which argues new directive is discriminatory against religious soldiers

By ToI Staff 30 August 2015, 4:17 am

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Illustrative photo of bearded religious soldiers. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

The High Court of Justice last week froze the implementation of new IDF restrictions on soldiers seeking to grow out their facial hair, which were slated to go into effect next month.

Under the new military policy, permission to grow beards would only be granted to soldiers in exceptional circumstances, and would require the signed approval of certain high-ranking officers.

The High Court on Thursday accepted a petition on behalf of several soldiers, who maintained the order was discriminatory and went against their religious beliefs.

The army has until September 8 to respond to the petition, and the new facial hair directive won’t go into effect until after the High Court hands down its final ruling.

“The High Court ruled 18 years ago that the right to grow a beard is a basic right for all, including soldiers both in compulsory and career service,” Lior Shtelzer, the attorney representing the soldiers, told the Haaretz daily. “The new order seeks to cancel that right, and make it the most rare exception – effectively making it nonexistent.”