SONDOS LAMRHARI
18, a student at Collège Ahuntsic where she just finished her first year of the police tech program
On the reactions from Quebec politicians, media commentators and the public after the story of her dream to become the first Quebec police officer to wear the hijab became front-page news:
“I knew it would prompt certain reactions, I didn’t necessarily know that it would prompt those reactions in particular. I thought that if this is what it takes to move forward and to get a concrete response, why not? I think everyone has the right to their own opinion, for and against ... It’s not in my personality to get caught up in negativity. There were certain comments that I read, certain articles — I think I read them all — that were against me. There were certain degrading terms, there were falsehoods about me. But I wasn’t brought down by it. If I can find the positive in the negative moments, I will. It helped me grow as a person, it helped me realize that just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean what you’re saying is right.”
On whether the negative reactions will change her mind about her goals:
“Absolutely not. I have a dream to be a police officer while keeping my identity as a veiled woman. Nothing changes that. I am convinced that it’s not going to change in the future either.”
On whether wearing a hijab has any impact on her abilities as a future police officer:
“Honestly. I’ve done competitions many times. I’ve been in the Canadian (Track and Field) Championships and honestly, it absolutely doesn’t affect my performance. It’s all in the manner of wearing it, in the confidence that it brings. When a woman who is confident wears it of her own accord, it shows. I’ve never had a problem. I wear it in my Jiu-Jitsu course in college, I arrange it, but it’s never been a problem.”
On how she’s adapted her hijab for her studies:
“I used to wear it more around my neck, the style that you mostly see. When I decided to go into police tech, I knew it was going to be something different, something new, something special, so I thought, fine, I can adapt it a bit to facilitate my integration. So I decided to wear it more in a turban style, like this. When I wear my uniform at college, it’s like that. There’s a message in it. It’s my way of saying to those who are listening, that I’m adaptable, that I’m able to adjust to the milieu and to show that it’s more than possible to wear the veil as a police officer.”
‘I have a dream to be a police officer while keeping my identity as a veiled woman.’