The ministry for police affairs is now considering whether a woman who wears hijab should be able to start the Police Academy in Oslo. Aftenbladet reported on the subject on Friday.

Keltoum Hasnaoui Missoum fra Sandnes wears the hijab and has a dream of becoming a police woman.

In other state services where uniform is necessary, she would be welcomed with her hijab. The Police Academy has just researched views on the hijab in other services. Chief lecturer, Jay Ganapati, who teaches as the academy was the main tutor for the student group.

”The conclusion was that other units such as the military, custom and excise and the hospital accepted the hijab, and that it was not against uniform regulations,” says Jay Ganapati to Aftenbladet.

The forces confirm this. Women who begin in the forces and who wear the hijab are not restricted in its use.

Allowed

”The forces allow members of religious denominations to wear visible religious symbols, identified by the denominations as so significant to the faith that these must/should be worn by the individual, in order for him/her to be identified as a member. The forces cater for special uniform needs,” answers Vegard Bratteteig of the Ministry of Defence.

The same thing applies to the hospital, for example Stavanger University Hospital (SUS). Employees are allowed to wear the hijab as long as the face is visible, and the shawl is washed and ironed often.

One of those who wear the hijab is auxiliary nurse, Asna Kadir from Jørpeland.

People accept it

”I have not received any negative reactions to the fact that I use the hijab, and I’m glad about that. Some people ask me why I use the head-wear, and I answer that it is a part of my religious tradition and identity. People accept that. Some ask if I have been forced to wear the hijab, to which I answer a firm “no”, says Asna Kadir.

At SUS there have been some talks about whether nurses and auxiliary nurses who use the hijab should have their own hospital hijab which could be washed together with other uniform clothes. They have had this system at Ullevål University Hospital:

”We have had our own headscarves with the Ullevål emblem made, and we are very pleased with them. It’s almost like a few years ago when nurses wore scarves or hoods,” says personnel leader, Anita Krosby from Ullevål.

In 2006 the hospital won the Diversity prize for its work in integrating employees from different countries. Krosby says that she hasn’t registered any negative comments about some staff members wearing the hijab.

SUS-hijab?

At SUS one is considering whether to make a hijab as part of the hospital outfit:

“We have tried the hijab-scarf Ullevål uses, but found it too warm and heavy. We are therefore considering whether there are other materials that are suitable. The alternative is for employees to use their own scarves,” says hygiene nurse, Berit Bue of SUS.