DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

23 May 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Police admin worker can wear hijab with a uniform, says human rights council

November 20, 2017
Police badge and radio.
Photo: Depositphotos.com

The Dutch police are wrong to ban a Muslim women officer from wearing a headscarf  in a job where her contact with the public is limited, the Dutch human rights council said on Monday.

The ban on religious symbols was introduced to ensure a ‘neutral and uniform appearance and for the safety of the police officer’, but the police have failed to prove these are ‘serious conditions’ for her to be able to carry out her job, the council said.

The case was brought by Sarah Izat, 26, who works in the national police 0900 call centre which the public can phone to make formal complaints, sometimes via a video connection.

The police have banned headscarves and other religious and political symbols on the grounds that police officers should present a ‘neutral and uniform appearance’.

The council said that in this case the need for a neutral appearance is limited, given the nature of the administrative job the young woman does.

Equal treatment

‘Equal treatment legislation states clothing regulations which conflict with freedom of religion laws should be limited to those which are strictly essential,’ the council said. In this case, the council said, the essential nature of the headscarf ban had not been proven. Therefore the headscarf ban cannot be justified.

The human rights council’s rulings are not binding and the police have not yet commented on the findings.

Izat told broadcaster NOS she considered the ruling an important first step. ‘It will not be solved in a day, but hopefully the police can now look to the next step when it comes to headscarves.’

In May, Amsterdam police considered making a headscarf an option with police uniform to attract more people from ethnic minorities but the move was opposed by police chief Erik Akerboom.

In addition, an Amsterdam police woman who went on patrol wearing a headscarf under her cap later that month was heavily criticised for her action.

In dit interview vertel ik waarom ik opkom voor het recht om een hoofddoek én uniform te dragen: https://t.co/VW8ZJftfPQ

— Sara Iza (@SarahIzat) November 9, 2017

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Trump will attend Nato summit in The Hague, Schoof says
Weekend brings showers and cooler weather, sun still possible
Many "new" homes on Funda were already on the market for months
MPs urge cabinet to join banned Pride march in Budapest
Foundations and the future: what you need to think about
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now