Markus Junianto Sihaloho – House Commission III members came out on Monday in support of National Police chief Timur Pradopo's decision to allow female police officers to wear a jilbab, or headscarf, while on duty.

"We support the National Police chief's decision to follow up this matter with a National Police chief decree," said Tjatur Sapto Edy, deputy chairman of Commission III, which oversees legal affairs.

Lawmakers asked Timur to revise a 2005 decree which prohibits police officers wearing headscarves.

Aboe Bakar al-Habsy from the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party said although Timur supported female officers wearing headscarves, he still needed to revise the 2005 decree to make the policy official.

Voicing a similar opinion, Ahmad Yani from the United Development Party, which is also Islam-based, observed that other countries allowed female officers to cover their heads. "Indonesia should give its officers the chance to wear jilbabs," said Yani.

Yani argued that the prohibition contradicted two provisions in the Constitution which guarantee freedom of religion.

Ida Fauziyah, head of Fatayat, the women's wing of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama, agreed with Yani. She said the prohibition on wearing jilbabs amounted to preventing Muslim women from practicing their faith, and she strongly opposed such an infringement on their rights.

Ida questioned the need for the ban, saying that the head covering did not interfere with the police uniform nor prevent female officers from discharging their duties effectively.

"If jilbabs don't change how the uniform looks and don't disrupt an officer carrying out their duty, there is no reason to ban them," she said.

Timur has previously said he was happy to hear out any officers requesting permission to wear a headscarf. "We have received such requests and we're considering them. I would like to thank the general public for the interest they have shown in the police force, even down to details such as the uniform and personal appearance."

Previously, Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar, a spokesman for the National Police, had played down concerns about the 2005 rule, but left the door open for review.

"In principle, the matter of dress is up to each individual when they're off duty, because there's already a regulation dress code when on duty," he said. "However, this regulation is now being re-evaluated."