Canadian Mounties allow officers to wear hijab

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Canadian Mounties allow officers to wear hijab

Rob Gillies, Associated Press

Updated 4:24 pm, Wednesday, August 24, 2016


TORONTO (AP) — Canada's national police force recently permitted its women officers to wear the hijab.

The Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently approved the change in policy, allowing Muslim women to wear the garment, a veil that covers the head and chest, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale's spokesman said Wednesday.

Scott Bardsley said it is intended to better reflect the diversity of Canada and to encourage more Muslim women to consider a career with the force.

The Mounties faced a public backlash more than 25 years ago when a Sikh man took the government to court and won the right to wear his traditional turban instead of the usual Mountie headgear. Canadians have long since accepted the change.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Canadian-Mounties-allow-officers-to-wear-hijab-9181556.php

[billpolonsky]

1. Good news for all Canadians

It's actually a "Fundamental Freedom" according to the Canadian Charter of rights and freedoms.

The R.C.M.P. is a federal police force and that it has made the decision to allow religious headgear is a positive move forward for everyone in the workplace.

Canada is a proud multicultural country and its police should reflect that diversity.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Canada

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms

[pampango]

9. "Canada is a proud multicultural country." And multiculturalism drives conservatives crazy.

Canada has a much higher immigration rate and welcomes more refugees than the US.

[mwrguy]

2. France could learn from Canada

[Skittles]

6. yes

women should be able to cover up the lady parts muslim men just cannot handle

[Hortensis]

10. Canada learns from us--as in

"If we did that, we'd be like Americans!" Our sometimes too wild and woolly examples have their uses.

[maxsolomon]

3. next up: burkhas painted to look like boots, jodhpurs and red jackets

I hope they make the officers wear the Mountie hat over the hijab - that'll be really comfy.

[geek tragedy]

4. Allowing law enforcement to cover their faces, what could go wrong? nt

[csziggy]

5. A hijab does not generally cover the face

Women wearing hijab


An Iranian sportswoman in a Hijab in Olympic games 2016. Brazil, Rio de Janeiro .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab

Frankly in Canada in the winter, something that covers the head and hears would be very convenient!

[geek tragedy]

7. oh dear, how embarrassing for me.

I think I knew that too, but the reference to it being a 'veil' was a bit confusing,

[csziggy]

8. I always look stuff up - it saves me a lot of red faces!

Though not all of my possible embarrassing moments have been stopped. I make plenty of mistakes.

[True Dough]

11. Yes! This is the right thing to do

Glad the RCMP is being open-minded on this issue. They allowed turbans in the 1990s and there was an uproar over that. Simpletons argued that turbans would "ruin" the tradition of the police force. What a bunch of bunk. Just like gay marriage "ruined" marriage? Some people are just opposed to change (and are bigots).





^^^ These cops are at a Tim Hortons, doing their best to reinforce the stereotype (I'm going to presume they already scarfed down their donuts).