According to Ahmed Esmaili, head of the imam committee of the Islamic Council of Norway, female Muslim police agents should try not to arrest men. “If she must arrest, and she is alone or together with other women, then she can do it. But if she is together with other colleague, who can take this part of the work, she isn’t required to do it,” said Esmaili. The reason cited is that it is inappropriate for Muslims, particularly Muslim women, to have contact with members of the opposite sex who are not family. Justice Minister Knut Storberget cited allowance for Muslim women police officers to wear headscarves to protect their modesty, but Esmaili does not believe this is sufficient. “It’s not enough with just a headscarf. Hijab is a garment that covers the entire body, except the hands and face. It’s an obligation and a decree from Allah.”
