The Pentagon has finally relieved some of the gender discrimination in the military by reversing a policy requiring women serving in the military in Saudi Arabia to wear traditional Muslim clothing when they travel off base. Thanks to Air Force Lt. Col. Martha McSally, women serving in the military in Saudi Arabia are now only "strongly encouraged," instead of "required," to wear the abaya.

Despite the action lifting this requirement, the Pentagon has left untouched other discriminating restrictions on female military, including prohibiting women from driving a car or sitting in the front seat of a vehicle and requiring that servicewomen be accompanied by a male when traveling off base.

McSally filed a lawsuit in December arguing that the policy was unconstitutional, as it infringed on women's First Amendment rights. While the women have been forced to wear the traditional Muslim garb, the American military men have not been forced to dress in Muslim clothing when leaving the base. McSally argued that the requirement forced American women to conform to others' religious and social customs. McSally, the Air Force's highest-ranking female fighter pilot, is certainly not willing to sacrifice her self-respect as a woman and as an American citizen by wearing a head-to-toe Muslim robe.

Even if some of the women serving in the military in Saudi Arabia choose to wear the abaya as a safety precaution when they leave their military bases, at least it has become their choice and not something forced on them by men who are not being forced to participate in the local Islamic customs and traditions.

McSally even pointed out that when military men and women travel together off base, the men wear typical American clothing, including jeans and collared shirts, while the women were being forced to wear the abaya. This did not prevent anyone in the Saudi Arabia from easily recognizing Americans; it simply appeared that American military men were traveling with American military women dressed in Muslim attire, McSally said. Those supporting the policy, including military officials, said they created the dress code out of respect for Islamic law and religious police, called mutawa, and for protection from terrorists.

Religious leaders in Saudi Arabia -- men, of course -- do not agree with the military's altered dress code for women. Sheik Saad al-Saleh has said the Islamic dress code should apply to everyone who walks in Saudi streets, no matter what nationality they are. The Pentagon echoed concern over removing this requirement, regarding it as an extremely sensitive issue; they even released the policy reversal to commanders in Saudi Arabia through secure intelligence channels instead of announcing it publicly.

In this way, the abaya matter is not only a gender issue but also a faith matter. The faith issue that has stepped into the limelight since the Sept. 11 attacks has also influenced McSally's case against the requirements. As a Christian, McSally does not believe she should be forced to participate in the traditions of another religion, one that she does not believe or support. McSally's lawyer, John Whitehead, noted that if the government financed the purchase of crosses, as it the financed the purchase of the abayas, and forced American women to wear them, it would be unconstitional and that this issue is no different. McSally has not given up her pursuit to persuade the Pentagon to change the remaining rules restricting female military.

She is also concerned about the wording of the policy lifting the restrictions, saying that "strongly encouraged" may still be interpreted by some as being mandatory. Fortunately, McSally says she will continue to press these issues. American military women throughout the nation and around the world should unite to support McSally in her quest for gender equality and religious justice in the military.