A Namibian Rastafarian man is suing authorities in the country after he was forced to shave his head following his conviction on a ganja offence, a move he says is a violation of his religious rights.

Brian Jaftha, a Rastafari advocate, is also challenging the constitutionality of an overall directive issued by the commissioner general of the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) mandating that male inmates’ beards must be shaved and their hair remain lower than one centimetre, according to reports from The Namibian.

The country’s minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, the commissioner general of the NCS, the officer in charge of Windhoek Correctional Facility and three prison officers are all listed on the N$1.3-million (roughly US$78,000) lawsuit.

Jaftha, who became an inmate of a local correctional facility in 2023, is suing the prison for shaving the locs he had been growing for over 20 years and subjecting him to periodic haircuts throughout his two years in jail.

The report cited Monday testimony heard in the country’s Windhoek High Court, where Jaftha said he was ignored by prison officers when he raised objections to having his locs cut off.

He said he only submitted under protest, describing it in court as ‘cutting his faith’ the report quoted.

Attorneys for the Namibian Government are contesting that Jaftha’s hair was cut for security and hygiene reasons, and the defendants have filed a plea describing their actions as necessary and reasonable.

Jaftha, who also holds the position of president of the Rastafari United Front (RUF) in Namibia, maintained that the cut affected his identity and cost him the respect of his peers in the Rastafari community.

He is asking the court for N$1.2 million from the minister and the prison authorities and another N$84,000 for damages he claims to have suffered when his dreadlocks, on which he claims to have spent that amount in maintenance costs over the two decades, were cut off.

The Rastafarian has reportedly restarted his journey since his release from prison in June 2025,