Storberget said the Norwegian government would reexamine a previous decision to allow Muslim women police officers to wear hijab.

OSLO — The Norwegian government's decision to rethink its earlier approval to amend the police uniform law to accommodate hijab is upsetting the Muslim minority in the Scandinavian country.

"It will dash the dreams of Muslim girls to join the police force," Brahim Belkilani, the head of the Islamic League in Norway, told IslamOnline.net on Friday, February 13.

"This step will impose isolation on the Muslim minority instead of opening the door for positive integration."

Justice Minister Knut Storberget said Wednesday that he would reexamine an earlier decision to allow Muslim women to join the police force while donning their hijab.

"In light of the debate that has surfaced…especially the reactions from (the main police union) Politiets Fellesforbund, I think it is necessary to start over again."

Keltoum Hasnaoui, a 23-year-old Norwegian Muslim of Algerian origin, had petitioned the Justice Ministry on her right to serve in the police force with her hijab.

After consultation with and support from the Police Directorate, the ministry agreed to amend the police uniform law to allow hijab.

The decision sparked an outcry, especially from the opposition Progress Party and the police union.

Storberget said the earlier approval would now be reevaluated.

"We're not saying no (but) we're not saying yes either."

Dialogue

Muslim leaders warn that banning hijab-clad Muslims from joining the police force would be a violation of Norway's constitution as well as the international law.

"It restricts religious minorities' right to work," said Belkilani, whose group was established in 1987.

Norwegian Muslims are estimated at 150,000 out of the country's 4.5 million population.

The majority of Muslims have Pakistani, Somali, Iraqi and Moroccan backgrounds.

Community leaders have launched a media campaign to explain to the public the importance of hijab.

"Muslim leaders have published many articles and talked to the media to explain that hijab is not a religious emblem but an obligatory code of dress that every Muslim woman must wear," Belkilani said.

"It is the right and duty of Muslim women to wear hijab."

A series of meeting are also planned between Muslim community leaders and Norwegian officials on the issue.

"The discussions will be behind close doors to avoid outside influence and ensure that the issue will be dealt with in a good way," said Belkilani.

Basim Ghozlan, a community activist, said Norwegian Muslims favor dialogue on the issue.

"The Muslim minority is not against dialogue. We only reject stereotypes."

Several European countries, including Sweden and Britain, already allow police officers to wear hijab.