Dispute over Jewish paramedics' beards

• Tweet

BALTIMORE, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Three Orthodox Jews who work as volunteer rescuers in suburban Baltimore are claiming discrimination in being barred from working because of their beards.

Matthias Goldstein, who holds a doctorate in health sciences and is chief of preventive medicine and wellness at Good Samaritan Hospital, and two other men claim the Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company is unfairly refusing them the right to work because their beards could might interfere with rescue breathing masks.

He told The Baltimore Sun the three have filed complaints with the Maryland Commission on Human Relations and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Rob Gould, spokesman for the volunteer group, denied there was any religious or political motivation involved.

"The bottom line is this is a safety-related matter and nothing more," Gould told the Sun. "Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company strongly denies any suggestion by any individual or group that it discriminates on the basis of religion."

The newspaper said precedent is on the Jews' side, citing a a 2008 case where a federal appeals court struck down a rule and ordered the District of Columbia Fire Department to accommodate Muslim firefighters.