As a practicing Sikh, Harminder Singh is required to cover his unshorn hair with a turban. He is strictly restricted, by somebody, from placing any further head attire over his turban thus making it impossible for him to wear the mandatory space suit that allows him to sustain life outside of the spacecraft.

“Today is the saddest day of my life.” said Harminder Singh in a statement given through his lawyer Harnek Takhar. “I have been stripped of my religious rights and freedoms. Because of their ignorance and disrespect of my religion I have been discriminated against and denied my dream of going to space.”

NASA spokesperson Tomas Helmut advised, “Our latest mission will require our astronauts to perform a space walk and possible repairs to the spacecraft. Without the protection of a space suit it is impossible for one to survive in outside of the craft. Harminder Singh is a highly valued asset and member of our space program but we feel we are acting in the best interest for the safety of our astronauts. ”

When advised that he would not be able to survive in space without the space suit Harminder Singh responded. “Don’t try to justify NASA’s discriminatory position. I want an exemption for my religion. It is my constitutional right. Sikhs around the world will be denied entry into space unless I fight this injustice here and now.”

Harnek Takher has filed a $200 million dollar lawsuit against NASA for violating Harminder Singh’s religious rights. If they win the case NASA will be forced to allow Harminder Singh to continue his mission and perform the required spacewalk without a space helmet.

NASA’s biggest concern is that Singh will not be able to breathe in outer space with just a turban. Singh, however, was quick to refute NASA’s comment, stating that “If Waheguru wants me to breathe in outer space, I WILL breathe in outer space…God damn it.”