•Assembly warns military against harassing women in hijab
Rallies were held across Lagos yesterday to commemorate the World Hijab Day.
From Jibowu to Yaba, Ojo to Okokomaiko, Ikorodu, Epe and Alausa in Ikeja, among other places, Muslim women came in their hundreds, carrying placards to express their displeasure over the maltreatment of hijab wearing women.
With the theme: Beautiful, Confident and Empowered, the World Hijab Day is globally marked on February 1.
The placards read: “My hijab, My pride; choice and religion; “Hijab signifies superiority and not inferiority”; “I love the hijab”; “Hijab by heart”; “If beret is for Christians, hijab is for Muslims”; and “No matter the murmuring, hijab till I die”.
Other inscriptions are, “Just do it, wear hijab for a day”, “I am happy I wear the hijab”, and “Don’t let the grave be the first time you will use the hijab”.
In her remarks, the Amirah (female president) of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, Hajia Hafsah Badru expressed displeasure over the increasing human rights abuses against Muslim women wearing hijab.
She said despite the awareness about the importance of hijab, some Nigerians still harass Muslim women who wear hijab and veil under the guise of being security conscious.
She said: “Without bias, an abuse carried out against anyone’s freedom to practise the tenets of his/her religion is a disrespect and disregard to the constitution and it constitutes a grievous abuse on human rights. It is shameful that human rights abuses are increasing in Nigeria at a point when they should be decreasing.”
Badru, who condemned the Boko Haram insurgency, explained that Muslim women were not supporting Boko Haram by wearing hijab.
She said: “Muslim women validity to wear hijab should not be what will be infringed upon because we are not the ones who diverted the fund that was supposed to be used to buy the needed arms for the country to boost security.
“Even when the Federal Government has successfully established that the arms fund was diverted, it is shocking to now see the same government, its soldiers, police and citizens portray religious intolerance to the tune of removing Muslim women’s hijab and veil, a calculated action to naked them.”
Lagos State House of Assembly, yesterday, also warned all government agencies including the military against harassment of women wearing hijab.
Speaker Mudasiru Obasa gave the warning while addressing scores of women who stormed the assembly to express their displeasure over the continued harassment of Muslim women wearing hijab by the military, Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), telecommunication operators and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others.
Obasa was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Health, Segun Olulade, when members of the Secretariat Community Central Mosque visited the assembly to rally support for hijab.
The speaker said no religion was superior to the other, adding: “Both religions (Christianity and Islam) are important. And that is why we often preach peaceful co-existence among residents of Lagos State.”
He said: “We will not tolerate any agency of government that harasses Muslim women with the Hijab. We believe in the rule of law and in the integrity of every religion including Islam. We will always stand by residents of Lagos State irrespective of their religion.
“We urge you to always conduct yourself in a peaceful manner. Islam cannot be termed as the religion for terrorist. We are joining you in urging people to desist from using Islam to perpetrate illicit acts.”
Women Affairs Secretary, Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Mrs. Aisha Adams, said that Hijab was often misinterpreted and larger percent of Muslim Hijab women were discriminated and emotionally abused through deliberate insensitive remarks.
She said: “This rally is a call for Hijab-wearing women to be recognised as modest and liberated religious adherents capable of ensuring peace and stability in the society. We are not in any way threat to the security. Rather than harassing us, they should do their duties and we shall support them as law-abiding citizens of Nigeria.
“Apart from being an ideal dress-code for the believing woman, the Hijab encompasses modest behaviour and mannerism. Wearing Hijab purifies the society by reducing the incident of sexual abuse and other related immoralities.”
She warned those who disguise under the Hijab to perpetrate crimes to desist from such acts and seek Allah’s forgiveness else they will face the wrath of Allah.
