Frontline Season 5 Episode 14 Keeping the Faith

Keeping the Faith is the 14th episode of the fifth season of Frontline. The episode revolves around the question of what happens when religious freedom collides with civil rights. The episode focuses on the case of a Sikh boy, Gursevak Singh, who was not allowed to wear his religious turban to school. The episode also explores the case of a Muslim woman, Nisrin Elamin, who was not allowed to wear her hijab in a classroom at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Both cases were fought on the grounds of religious freedom, but the implications were much larger.

The episode examines the history of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was introduced in 1993 and signed into law by President Clinton. The act was intended to protect the religious practices of individuals and institutions from government interference. However, the episode explains that the act has been used by some to justify discrimination and infringe on the rights of others.

The case of Gursevak Singh took place in 2008 and involved the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District in Wisconsin. Singh was an 11-year-old boy who wanted to wear his turban to school in accordance with his Sikh faith. The school district denied his request, citing a no-hat policy. The case went to court and eventually came before the Supreme Court, where it was decided in favor of the school district. The decision was based on the school's interest in maintaining a uniform dress code and was seen as a setback for religious freedom advocates.

The episode also explores the case of Nisrin Elamin, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Elamin was asked to remove her hijab during a class exercise, which she refused to do. The university initially defended the classroom policy, but eventually changed it after facing public criticism and legal pressure. The episode examines the role of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on religion, in cases like Elamin's.

The episode interviews legal experts, religious leaders, and individuals directly involved in the cases. It also examines the broader implications of these cases for religious freedom and civil rights in the United States. The episode raises important questions about where to draw the line between religious freedom and discrimination and underscores the need for a nuanced and sensitive approach to these issues.

Overall, Keeping the Faith is a thought-provoking episode that sheds light on a complex issue. It provides historical context and legal analysis while maintaining a focus on the human stories behind the cases. The episode is well-researched and presents multiple perspectives, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of religion, law, and civil rights.