REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Police decree No. Skep/702/IX/2005 bans policewomen to use of headscarves or locally called jilbabs. Police emphasizes that the use of headscarf is not yet included in policewomen's dress code. Therefore, the use of headscarves by female police officers as happens in Aceh is a violation.

"It is violation since it is not mentioned in the regulation," Head of Public Information at Police Headquarters, Commissioner Agus Rianto said recently.

Rianto said if the rules mentioned a female police might wear the headscarf, then it might be done. On the other hand, the ban is criticized by a number of national figures including Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsuddin.

"I condemn the rule which prohibits female police or police women from wearing headscarf. It is not wise," Syamsuddin said on Thursday.

According to him, the policy violates the constitutional. In Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the state guarantees the right of citizens to practise their religions or beliefs. While according to Islam, wearing the headscarf is part of Islamic teachings. Constitutional law expert, Yusril Ihza Mahendra said he would help police women to be allowed to wear headscarves. 

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