The RCMP has developed a hijab for female officers or applicants of the Islamic faith to wear while on duty.
“Offering female Muslim RCMP officers the choice to wear the hijab reflects the diversity of the RCMPs workforce,” said Sgt. Harold Pfleiderer, in a statement.
The RCMP-issued hijab went through rigorous testing to make sure it would be safe for officers to wear. It was officially adopted in January 2016, although news of it didn’t get out until recently.
According to Pfleiderer, the RCMP currently has no members requesting to wear the hijab on duty.
The RCMP is not the first Canadian police force to adopt the hijab. Toronto Police Service introduced the hijab in 2011, with the Edmonton Police Services following suit in 2013.
Police services in the U.K., Sweden and Norway have also adopted similar policies.
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