No Headscarves Yet as Police Officials Debate Policy

No Headscarves Yet as Police Officials Debate Policy

By Farouk Arnaz on 8:49 pm December 2, 2013.


Policewomen who wish to wear Islamic headdress while on duty may have to wait as leaders of the National Police still debate the details of the policy.

Following a statement by National Police chief Comr. Gen. Sutarman that female officers would be allowed to wear the hijab while working, the National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Oegroseno said on Sunday the policy had to be postponed until an official regulation was drafted and issued.

“I received input from Comr. Gen. Imam Sudjarwo, the National Police’s internal affairs chief that if the policy is implemented right now, it would result in policewomen wearing colorful headscarves,” Oegroseno said.

“That’s why the policy must be postponed until the regulation is issued.

“The National Police chief’s statement is not a fatwa , we must wait for the regulation,” he added.

Oegroseno, who was Sutarman’s senior in the police academy, said he had sent a letter to the entire police force to hold off on the headscarf issue until further notice.

He said he had the right, as the National Police deputy chief, to act on behalf of the institution.

“The letter was issued on Nov. 27 or 28, and it says policewomen should not wear headscarves while on duty for the time being,” he said.

“If they want to wear the hijab outside of working hours of course they are allowed.”

“We will see what kind of headscarves we should allow, or if they can still run or carry weapons while wearing it,” he added.

Oegroseno denied that he had banned headscarves in the National Police. He also made assurances that he was still on a good footing with Sutarman.

“I have no problem with the National Police chief, but we need a regulation first to prevent chaos. I also sent the letter to the chief. This is not a personal policy, it is being made on behalf of an organization,” he said.

Sutarman previously stated that he would allow policewomen to wear the hijab at work.

Sutarman said some policewomen in Aceh province have already started using the headdress while on duty.

The National Police issued regulations regarding the police dress code in 2005. These regulations prohibited policewomen from wearing headscarves while on duty.

However, Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, a spokesman for the National Police, denied that there was a specific article in the regulation that expressly prohibited the garment.

Agus said the National Police’s dress code regulations applied only to orderly conduct and that policewomen in Aceh province were exempt because the province operates partially under Shariah.

The prohibition prompted protests from several Islamic organizations. Earlier, 12 Muslim organizations united under the Foundation of Islamic Organization Brotherhood had demanded that the National Police immediately issue a new regulation permitting policewomen to cover their heads while on duty.

Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also protested the regulation. MUI deputy secretary general Tengku Zulkarnain said policewomen should be given the right to wear the hijab.

Tengku noted that despite the National Police chief’s new policy, his organization continued to receive reports from policewomen who were not allowed to enter training classes because they were wearing headscarves.

Tengku added that the National Police should set aside a budget to design a special uniform for female officers wishing to wear headscarves.


Jakarta Globe