Lt. Commander Wafa Dabbagh became the first female member of the Canadian Armed Forces to wear the hijab in 1996. (Chris Mikula/Postmedia News)
Posted on 08/24/2016 1:57:37 PM PDT by 2nd amendment mama
New policy aims to better reflect diverse communities and recruit more Muslim officers
The Mounties have adopted a new uniform policy to allow female Muslim officers to wear the hijab.
Scott Bardsley, spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, confirmed that RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson recently approved an addition to the uniform policy to allow women officers to wear the head scarf "if they so choose."
"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a progressive and inclusive police service that values and respects persons of all cultural and religious backgrounds," Bardsley said in an email.
Male members of the Sikh faith have been able to wear the turban as part of the RCMP uniform since the early 1990s, he noted.
That right was won by Baltej Singh Dhillon, a young practising Sikh who wanted to become a Mountie but also wanted to wear a turban on the job.
The federal government's decision in 1990 to end the ban and allow him provoked emotional debate and widespread protests across Canada.
Bardsley said the new policy is intended to better reflect diversity in Canadian communities and to encourage more Muslim women to consider the RCMP as a career option.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Julie Gagnon said current policy, which came into effect in January 2016, requires an "exemption" to wear the hijab from the commissioner, the only senior officer permitted to approve faith-based accommodations.
Gagnon said the RCMP developed a hijab for applicants or serving female members of the Islamic faith, reflecting "the diversity of the RCMP's workforce." It underwent rigorous testing to ensure the design meets "the highest standards of officer safety."
She said the RCMP currently has no members requesting to wear the hijab on duty.
The only other religious or cultural item allowed is the turban for male officers.
Bardsley said the RCMP will be the third Canadian police force to adopt the hijab policy, behind Toronto and Edmonton police services. Police services across the U.K., Sweden and Norway, and some in U.S. states, have also adopted similar policies.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims applauded the policy change, calling it a "welcome one and a natural evolution for Canadian policing." The advocacy group said three types of headscarves were tested to select one that would not encumber officers and could be easily removed when required.
"While in 1990 there was initial reluctance to allow Sikh RCMP officers to wear the turban as part of their uniforms, Canadians have since embraced the change and we expect that this will be the same with the decision to allow the hijab, said the council's communications director Amira Elghawaby in a release.
"The Canadian Muslim population is growing and this decision will help reflect the richness and diversity of our country as well as open up career options for minorities."
The military has longstanding policies "to protect and promote the religious or spiritual rights and freedoms of [Canadian Armed Forces] members," including accommodating religious and spiritual requirements "if militarily practicable."
"The CAF would evaluate a request, taking into account the religious beliefs of the member, and make a decision based on safety and operational considerations," spokesman Daniel Lebouthillier said in an email.
In past, the policy has allowed members of the Sikh religion to wear a turban, as long as it does not jeopardize operational safety.
He noted that Lt.-Cmdr. Wafa Dabbagh became the first CAF member to wear the hijab in 1996.
Lt. Commander Wafa Dabbagh became the first female member of the Canadian Armed Forces to wear the hijab in 1996. (Chris Mikula/Postmedia News)
According to the military's dress instructions manual dated 2001, members can wear the hijab with certain conditions.
"For spiritual and religious reasons, members are authorized to wear the hijab, provided that any danger should be avoided when they carry some types of operational gear parts such as gas mask, oxygen mask, combat/vehicle/flying/ construction helmets, diver's mask, etc.," the policy reads.
"In case of real danger, these members shall modify their hairstyling or hijab, or both, in a way that will allow them to wear the requested gear."
That ship sailed long ago in Canada. Police participation in “pride” parades is now mandatory duty subject to disciplinary consequences for any dissenter. I expect the level of sick leave dramatically increases in the week prior to those public displays of debauchery. But I can guarantee no muslim officer - male or female - would be assigned to those events.
I guess it’ll keep their ears warm in winter.
It sure destroys the brave image of Dudley Do-Right. Snidely Whiplash is likely safe from the new RPCMP.
No, lesbian feminists took care of that for obvious reasons.
Caliphate.....is inches away in Canada.
This presents a safety issue, an assailant could easily strangle the wearer.
No men left. Beer is next to fall to Sharia.
Takbir!
“This presents a safety issue, an assailant could easily strangle the wearer.”
Oh, well. You plays the game, you takes your chances.
Lol, that is the DUMBEST outfit I’ve ever seen.
Canadians, come on!
You’re sooooo afraid of being swallowed by American culture, and you allow THIS?
You’re not “strong and free” you’re just weak and dumb.
What in the? Female mounties are already diluting the institution, but this is just ridiculous. Way to go, canucks!
Most grown men wouldn’t need to bother with that to strangle a female mountie anyway. As long as you can disarm her, she ain’t likely to be able to stop you if you wanted to choke her with your bare hands.
“Even the Mounties have become PC.”
Please. I’m from kanadastan born and bred. Those clowns have been PC before PC crap erupted in America. There were even open faggots in the ranks back in the early 90’s.
They wear jock straps too.
Oh look! The Canadians are outrunning us in the stupidity race. No worries, i'm sure we'll catch up in time.
Give it a few years and the RCMP will make it mandatory for all women to wear the hijab so they don’t offend the Muslims.
Do they get to carry swords?
I’m sorry if they want to do that then they should obey the rest of Sharia and stay at home and never go outside without a male relative.
Women mounties? Those words generate an interesting image in my brain.
Caliphate, eh.
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