Oslo - Female Norwegian police officers would in future likely be allowed to wear the hijab - the Muslim headscarf, as part of their uniform, the justice ministry said Wednesday. The issue came to light recently when Keltoum Hasnaoui Missoum, 23, asked if it was possible to wear the hijab during police training and as a trained police officer.
Her query triggered a justice ministry probe and the announcement that regulations for police uniforms would be changed so that "religious headwear can be used with police uniforms."
National Police Board Director Ingelin Killengreen said allowing female officers to wear the hijab could help ensure that the police force was representative of people from all walks of life, ethnicity and faith traditions.
The justice ministry said it had also surveyed other government agencies including the defence forces and customs agency as well as the British and Swedish police forces.
