Justice Minister disappointed that cities allow enforcers to wear religious symbols

Outgoing Justice Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz called it “a shame” that some cities are allowing their enforcement officers to wear visible expressions of their religion or philosophy to work. Amsterdam and The Hague will soon make this possible, and some cities like Arnhem and Tilburg already allow it. Amsterdam’s political leadership announced their decision on Tuesday, and Utrecht made a similar decision two weeks earlier.

Yeşilgöz has “taken note of this, and they are free to do this” because enforcement officers are municipal employees. There is a national guideline that indicates that neutrality is desirable for enforcement officers and administrative supervisors, but it is not mandatory.

The minister would “not be opposed” to the directive becoming more binding, but that is up to a new minister, she said before the weekly Cabinet meeting. The minister is in charge of the police but has no authority over enforcement officers. Municipalities may determine the dress code of their civil servants themselves.

“Ultimately, it is about the neutrality that we all want enforcement officers and the police to radiate,” she said. According to her, it is also not good that the policy will differ in every municipality. She pointed out that the call for a national guideline came from enforcers themselves. “But I would actually like us to get out of this discussion and let people work in a uniform that is neutral.”

Amsterdam plans to allow religious expressions

Amsterdam’s mayor and aldermen said they want to make it possible for enforcement officers and administrative supervisors in the capital to express their religious affiliations. Mayor Femke Halsema and Alderman Hester van Buren for personnel and organization policy announced their plans by letter to the full City Council on Tuesday, but it is not yet known when this will take effect.

“The [mayor and aldermen] are convinced that all civil servants are professional and impartial in their actions, regardless of their religious background,” the letter stated. “That is why [they] are taking the position that wearing religious expressions should be possible for all municipal employees. This makes the work more accessible to a broader group of potential enforcers and supervisors in times of significant personnel shortages.”

More than two years ago, a motion was passed in which the political leadership was asked to investigate whether people wearing religious headgear would like it if the regulations became more inclusive. Consulting firm Diversion conducted research, which shows that almost all participants were in favor. However, given the limited number of participants in the study, the study was rejected, the letter stated. A new investigation will not be organized, because the political leaders have “already taken the position that the wearing of religious expressions should be made possible for all municipal functions.”

The fire brigade also previously expressed their goal to allow people to wear religious items when in uniform for functions. “This wish has been discussed in the Safety Region, where it has been decided to see how and when religious expressions can be made possible in the fire service.”

Enforcement officers in Utrecht have been allowed to work with religious or philosophical expressions since the beginning of this month. This is also already allowed in Arnhem and Tilburg, and will be allowed in The Hague in the future. Just like in Amsterdam, it is not yet known exactly when.