Maha Sukkar is an Australian police officer in Victoria.[1] Sukkar was the first Australian police officer permitted to wear a traditional Muslim hijab as part of her official police uniform when she became a Victoria Police officer in 2004.[2][3] She graduated from the Victoria Police Academy using the Qur'an to swear the oath to the Victoria Police before receiving her badge from commissioner Christine Nixon.[4]

Sukkar is the founder of the Victoria Police Muslim Association.[1] Her current police rank is Sergeant and she works at the police academy in Victoria.[4] At the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards in 2009, Sukkar was named one of the "Australian Muslim Women of the Year".[1] The Australasian Council for Women in Policing awarded Sukkar a bravery award in 2010.[1]

In 2018, Sukkar was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.[5] A post on the Victoria Police Facebook page about Sukkar's induction onto the Honour Roll of Women triggered a series of threatening, racist and sexist comments.[6] Commenting about the incident, Sukkar said, while she believes in freedom of speech, a line must be drawn when it comes to people encouraging physical attacks on her.[6]

On 13 June 2019, she was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM). In October 2019 she was named one of The Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in the Diversity and Inclusion category.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 (19 March 2018) Senior Constable Maha Sukkar, Australasian Council of Women in Policing. Accessed 13 November 2018.
  2. ↑ (26 November 2004) Simpson, Natasha Policewoman given uniform variation to wear hijab, PM, ABC Radio. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. ↑ (27 November 2004) Making hijab part of Victoria police uniform, The Age. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 Dinham, Abby (18 August 2017) 'Don't call me a pioneer!' - Australia's first hijab-wearing officer changing perceptions, SBS News. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Leading Senior Constable Maha Sukkar, Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Victorian Government. Accessed 13 November 2018.
  6. 1 2 Prytz, Anna (22 March 2018) 'There's a line to draw' : Muslim officer rises above online abuse, The Age. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "AFR's 11 most influential women revealed". Australian Financial Review. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.


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