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Hijabs as Part of Uniforms in the West

by Daniel Pipes
April 25, 2001
updated Aug 12, 2009

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While niqabs and burqas remain highly contentious in the West, the hijab is step-by-step becoming an accepted part of the landscape. Perhaps most striking is that is becoming part of the official uniform of various institutions. This weblog entry keeps an eye on that trend.

"Met lets Muslim policewomen don headscarves": An initiative of the Metropolitan Police (i.e., London's police) has led to on-duty Muslim policewomen having the option of wearing a hijab in the Met's colors. (Plain clothes female officers can wear their choice of hijabs.) Indeed, the force has approved four different styles of hijab. (April 25, 2001)

Metropolitan Police officers modeling uniform hijabs.

More Metropolitan Police uniform hijabs being modeled.

"IKEA Headscarf for Female Muslim Staff": In what is apparently a first in the Western world, management at the new IKEA store in north London commissioned TheHijabShop.com specially to designed a hijab to accommodate its female Muslim staff. Navy blue with yellow trim, it carries the IKEA logo, discreetly sewn into the back. IKEA required that it be comfortable wear, with no flowing material or pins while meeting Islamic requirements. The result is a two-piece unit, a cap covering the head and a cloth fitting over the cap and going down to the neck, shoulder, and chest. (August 25, 2005)

IKEA's hijab, complete with company logo.

"Police adopt uniform hijab": The Leicestershire Constabulary in Great Britain have incorporating a hijab into the police uniform for female officers on patrol in the hopes that more Muslim women will apply to the force. The hijab is plain black and made out of flame-retardant material. It is to be worn below a standard police hat. Leicestershire appears to be the third U.K. police force to take this step, after the Metropolitan and Thames Valley. (January 31, 2009)

"'Ethnic' fire uniforms launched": Note the delicate phrasing – the entire article rigorously avoids any mention of Islam or Muslims, instead referring to "an ethnically diverse workforce," "the widest possible range of people," "designed to reflect religious and cultural sensitivities," and "cultural beliefs are being recognised." However worded, the important thing is that fire brigades in England all now have the option to purchase the uniform, which also includes maternity, sportswear, and formal variants. (March 30, 2009)

New fire-fighting uniforms for women, available to brigades across England.

"Sweden: Pharmacy chain offers company headscarves": Apoteket, the Swedish pharmacy chain, will offer its staff a new uniform next month that, for the first time, includes headscarves with the company logo. (August 11, 2009)

Related Topics: Dhimmitude, Muslims in the West, Sex and gender relations receive the latest by email: subscribe to daniel pipes' free mailing list This text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.