Various Islamic organisations have called on the Lagos State government to make a categorical statement acknowledging the judgment of the Supreme Court and demonstrate that Lagos State is for all, and a respecter of the Rule of law.
They spoke during a Stakeholders Summit on the implementation of the Supreme Court Judgment on Hijab in Lagos State.
The summit was held at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas Mosque, Old Secretariat, Ikeja.
In a communiqué signed by the Lagos Branch Chairman of Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) Misbaudeen Ajibola Kaka, the group enjoined the state government to direct the authorities of the primaries and secondary schools to allow without any inhibition all female Muslim students who desire to wear their hijab over their school uniforms.
According to them, no student should be victimised and or subjected to any form of intimidation or discrimination for wearing hijab.
The stakeholders urged the government to ensure that any teacher who violates the judgment of the court is promptly disciplined to avoid being sued for contempt of Court.
The communiqué reads in part: “We urge the government to set up (if it is yet to do so) a committee to immediately look into the school dress code in Lagos State, and fashion out a model that will be non-discriminatory and will recognise in particular the rights of Muslim girls in public schools which shall be in tandem with the minimum that has been exhibited in the case leading to the Supreme Court judgment.
“The summit expressed the commitment of the Muslim Community the state to engage constructively, the representatives of the State government in fashioning out the modality on the implementation of the judgment, adding that it will no longer tolerate the abuse and discrimination of Muslim female students. We are committed to the peaceful and harmonious co-existence in Lagos State and lend its voice in commending the laudable efforts and stride of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in running the affairs of the state.”