[ad_1]
The new passports and national ID card will likely be safe even without visible ears, says Justice Minister Monica Mæland. She is aiming for better procedures, more secure documents, and a better biometric comparison.
– But what you are doing now is to stop receiving advice from the police?
– Yes, it is true that some advised on this and justified it with certainty. But it is not the case that we should demand more than is necessary. There must be proportionality between the demands we make, especially when they are perceived to discriminate and impede religious freedom. So we don’t want that, replies Mæland.
Security considerations
When the new passport regulations were consulted last summer, the Norwegian Police Directorate wrote in its response to the Ministry of Justice that security considerations must outweigh. They noted that a person’s ears are as unique as fingerprints and can be manually verified to prevent misuse of, for example, stolen documents.
“Visible ears are important for identification, and nothing beats security,” Secretary of State Thor Kleppen Sættem told NRK in February.
– The Police Directorate has confirmed that they believe that passports will be safe enough with the requirements as we design them now, without visible ears, says Justice Minister Monica Mæland.
SAFE ENOUGH: You must avoid discrimination and discrimination, says Justice Minister Monica Mæland.
Photo: Katrin Hellesnes / NRK
Long fight
Norwegian Sikhs have been fighting the visible ear requirement since it was introduced in Norway in 2014. The proposal for a new passport regulation, which was sent for consultation last summer, led to a completely unusual compromise. Both Sikhs and Muslims protested to keep the demand up.
Yesterday, they were paid for their efforts, when up to three ministers showed up at the Sikh temple in Oslo to say they were dropping the lawsuit.
– This has been a very long battle, says Prableen Kaur on behalf of the Sikh community.
He talks about several hundred meetings and emails with ministries and others.
BIG DAY: Prableen Kaur from the Norwegian Sikh community shed tears when the government message came through.
Photo: Katrin Hellesnes / NRK
– It is very difficult to describe what this means for Norwegian Sikhs. But it’s like merging all the Sikh holidays, Christmas Eve and May 17, and celebrating it in one day. This is very, very big, he says.
Religious duty
Kaur explains that wearing a turban is a religious duty, so it is offensive to take it off unless done at a protected checkpoint. Being photographed without a turban to show the ears is tremendously difficult.
– Going out of the requirement of visible ears in passport photos means that Sikhs get freedom of movement online with others. We know that there are Sikhs who have not been able to travel abroad, since they have not had a passport, he says..
– For me, as Minister of Gender Equality, this is an important issue, says Abid Raja.
GET HELP: The Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, Abid Raja, receives help with the “reserve turban” before entering the temple.
Photo: Katrin Hellesnes / NRK
– They have come from Norway, but also from Sikh communities abroad. I’m glad we’re making this change now, he says.
