Let us wear Hijab

One of the 13 officers who have written the PSWA is Special Reserve Police (SRP) Constable Sharon Roop, who has been in the service for the past six years and is based at the wireless room of the Chaguanas Police Station. WPC Roop has written to Ag CoP Williams seeking an audience to discuss the matter but yesterday told Newsday she has been unsuccessful in getting an appointment.

Saying is a devout Muslim, WPC Roop said she then wrote to the PSWA asking for assistance but the Association too, has not responded.

Roop said she was born into the Muslim faith but never practised the religion seriously until two years ago when she began studying the Holy Koran and decided to follow her faith deeper.

She said that she opted to wear a long sleeve uniform and trousers instead of a skirt and short sleeve top. “I yearn for the day when I can report for duty in my Hijab because while I am committed to my job as an officer of the law, I also have a religious obligation to fulfil,” Roop said adding that it is the duty of all serious Muslim women to cover their head when out in public.

“Only a Muslim woman can understand how I feel and I intend to continue pushing for my constitutional right to wear a Hijab while on duty because as far as I am aware provisions are made for female Muslim officers to wear the Hijab in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.” She spoke of attending a women’s conference in Central Division a few months ago, and while wearing a Hijab and plain clothes, a Sergeant prevented her from going on a walk to interact with the public, because of her Hijab.

“I am a practising Muslim and it is clear from the Koran that wearing the Hijab is a religious obligation.

It represents that I am submitting to Allah.” The mother of two said she is hoping for a positive response from Commissioner Williams.

PSWA Secretary Insp Anand Ramesar, Newsday was told, wrote letters to Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon, Commissioner Williams, head of the Anjuman Sunnat Jamaat Association (ASJA) Yacoob Ali and Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Dr Maria Gomes, requesting consultation on whether the petitioning officers should be allowed to wear the Hijab while on duty.

Yesterday, PSWA President, Insp Michael Seales said, “the Association has taken note of the request by SRP Roop and 12 other female officers of the Muslim faith who have made a request and as a consequence, the Association Secretary was approaching the issue and this resulted in writing persons for consultation.”