The New Zealand police has taken another step towards diversity by introducing hijabs to its uniform for the first time, reported NZ Herald.
Zeena Ali, the first officer to officially wear it worked with the police force to design the clothing piece so it would comfortable to wear and work with.
After the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks, she joined the police to help her Muslim community, realizing that more women were needed in the force to such attacks that target Muslims.
Muslims, especially the women are scared to talk to law enforces, even more so after the attack. Ali said “they would probably shut the front door if a man turned up to talk to them.”
Ali hopes that having a varied front line would reduce more crime and fear of aggression towards the communities there.
Ali is proud to wear the headscarf, saying that it felt great to be able to wear something that’s officially part of her uniform.
“I think that seeing it, more Muslim women will want to join as well,” she added.
To better protect the communities that reside in the country, the diversity is needed so that the every part of the groups there could feel more welcomed and accepted as what they are, having officials that of the same group as them.
In their job recruitment page, it said that “recognize the value different perspectives and experiences bring to making [them] better at what [they] do.”
Source: Indian Express