The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hijab

  • Hijab ban, no solution

    IR: The Muslim Hijab (female veil) or Niqab is not only an Islamic religious symbol and identity, it is also an apparel and garment of feminine modesty and an outfit commanded to be worn by God (Allah) to conceal the outward beauty of females and preserve them for their husbands alone, and to maintain the chastity and pride of womanhood. If the words of President Muhammadu Buhari during his maiden edition of presidential media chat held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 were to be taken seriously, the federal government is already considering a possible ban on Hijab if Boko Haram terrorists continue to use it to perpetuate evil.

    It is true that the use of female minors wearing Hijab as suicide bombers by terrorists has been on the increase recently. It is also true that the veil has always created a cover of some sort for suicide bombers, making it difficult for security agents to know or easily identify who is strapped with the deadly explosive and who isn’t. Banning the Hijab will be an unrealistic approach in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. It is on record that deadlier attacks had been carried out by Boko Haram using vehicles, motorcycles, hand bags and even cell phones during which hundreds of innocent Nigerians have lost their lives while thousands more have suffered degrees of injuries and permanent disabilities. Yet the federal government hasn’t considered a ban on vehicles, motorcycles, handbags or cell phones anywhere in this country.

    A number of terrorist activities, armed robberies, kidnapping and assassinations have been carried out by men in suit in so many parts of Nigeria at different times during which several lives and valuable properties were lost, yet the government hasn’t deemed it necessary to consider banning the use of suits. Hence, a ban on Hijab if anything will only make the Boko Haram terrorists get more creative in seeking alternative ways in carrying out their evil acts of terrorism. Rather than banning the Hijab, the Muslim feminine religious symbol which is capable of sending the wrong signal and further create religious tension, the federal government should map out a more holistic approach to prosecuting the ongoing war on terror.

    If the government bans Hijab, will they also ban Agbada, Babanriga and Kaftan garments due to the fact that bombs and explosives could be easily concealed underneath? Instead of considering an outright ban on Hijab which would be tantamount to treating the symptoms of an illness and neglecting the actual illness or its root cause, the government should rather consider more practical approaches like acquiring high power bomb detective gadgets which can detect bombs and explosives from a comfortable distance to be used and installed in public places like schools, hospitals, motor parks, churches and mosques, and other public gatherings. The war against terrorism should not be allowed to deprive or rob a people of their moral and decent dress code, and religious identity.

    If Boko Haram is so powerful to dictate what we should wear, what we should eat or how we should move around, it therefore means that the terrorists may have successfully instilled fear in Nigerians and gotten Nigeria to its knees. Does this not amount to technically losing the war to Boko Haram?

    Hussain Obaro,

    Ilorin, Kwara State.

  • Group makes case for hijab

    Group makes case for hijab

    National Ameer (President) of the Muslim Students’ Society Of Nigeria (MSSN), Muhammad Jameel Muhammad has described as intolerable the continued denial and discrimination against the use of Hijab.

    He spoke at during a courtesy visit to the House Of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker Hon Lasun Sulaiman who received them on behalf of Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    A statement by the National Public Relation Officer, Muhammad Grema Bukar quoted Muhammad as saying that since Hijab has never hindered the users from excelling in all fields, the Islamic dress code should not be denied anymore by any individual, organisation or even government.

    “Moreover, as if the plotters against the Hijab are not contented with their unconstitutional act, some of them, he said, have gone ahead to advocate a legislation to totally ban the use of hijab in Nigeria on the pretext that it is used by terrorist as a cover to launch attacks on innocent Nigerians.

    “Our query lies in the fact that, in civilised societies, few cases of abuse of something have never been used as an excuse to abolish such an important thing. We therefore call on you to sponsor a bill to enact a specific legislation that will criminalise the denial of the use of Hijab in this country.”

    Muhammad expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), especially in the recent time.

    He said: “While we now have some sigh of relief for the timely intervention of the Federal Government on the Board’s imposition of course and institution on the candidates against their choices, we want the relevant authorities particularly the National Assembly to find whether the statutory objectives of JAMB is to generate revenue like FIRS, or to render a necessary social service-access to higher education. This is necessary given the apparent extortion of candidates in the form of sales of scratch to determine one’s posting for post UTME. We call for immediate refund of such monies.”

    The National President expressed happiness that the leadership emergence issues of the House of Representatives have been amicably resolved in that a way that there is no winner no vanquished.

    “In fact, we should say a win/win type resolution. As we pray the same to happen at the upper chamber, we fervently ask Allah to make the happenings of the previous weeks avenues of knowing one another and knowing the job, which will ultimately usher in a more robust, a more dispassionate and a more united National Assembly, despite multifaceted diversity,” he said.

    He lamented the relegation of religious subjects in various academic institutions, saying that “at a time when we seriously need God consciousness, decency, sacrifice among other virtues as antidotes to corruption, immorality and all social vices, it is sad that religion as a subject is relegated to an elective status in our secondary schools. It is equally sad that general course of core status like Moral Philosophy have been made insignificant at a time when our higher institutions of learning are afflicted with cultism, nudity, examination malpractice, intolerance among other indicators of total moral bankruptcy.  We call for a rethink and a quick review of this unpopular, inimical policy.”

    Among the team that visited the leadership of the National Assembly include Auwal Yunus (National Secretary General), Bukar, Anas Hamisu Lawal.  (National financial Secretary), Surajuddeen Abdulaziz (National Ex-Officio I) and Abdulhakeem Kolawole (National Islamic Affairs Officer B’Zone) among others.

     

  • Fear of hijab grips Kano residents as female bombers break loose

    Fear of hijab grips Kano residents as female bombers break loose

    The trend is evil, callous, wicked, un-Islamic and, in fact, very barbaric… I can confirm to you that people now feel uncomfortable when they sight a young girl in hijab. I have noticed this a number of times

    Although the wave of terror attacks engineered by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents is being contained by security agencies in Kano, the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria and one of the most populous states in Nigeria, a strategy adopted by insurgents to carry out bombings is causing panic and apprehension among residents.

    While the dreaded sect has adopted many tricks to facilitate the killings and bombings they are carrying out in the North East and some other parts of the country, the one that has elicited the most concern among Kano residents is the use of under-age girls, who hide explosives under their hijabs. Both the Muslims and the Christians in the state have never expressed any objection to the use of hijab. But while they see the hijab as morally, religiously and socially acceptable, they have taken exception to its use by innocent-looking teenagers who act as agents of the dreaded sect to conceal bombs.

    “The trend is evil, callous, wicked, un-Islamic and, in fact, very barbaric,” said Mallam Abdulkarim Isah, a Kano-based social critic. “I can confirm to you that people now feel uncomfortable when they sight a young girl in hijab. I have noticed this a number of times.

    “In fact, I remember vividly what happened in a bus when I was coming from Naibawa to Bata Junction. Two young girls were sitting on the second row of the bus and were wearing hijabs, while I sat with the driver. I noticed that passengers refused to join the bus as the driver stopped at bus stops. I later realised that as the passengers looked in and saw the two hijab-wearing girls, they would retreat. It is as bad as that, and I am sure it is a development that needs urgent attention.”

    Mallam Isah, however, cautioned that it would be unnecessary to call for a ban of hijab in a highly Muslim community like Kano. He called on the security agencies to put heads together and come up with a better strategy that can solve the hijab issue without arousing sentiments.

    He said: “It is an issue that deserves careful attention. If security agencies take it up without caution, they might end up arousing religious sentiments and that will be disastrous for Kano. I think the whole thing boils down to reorientation.

    “The government, religious organisations, traditional rulers and opinion leaders have a major role to play. We need to talk to people from community meetings to the churches and mosques, up to the schools and places of work.

    “Most of the children who engage in such self-destructive activities are brainwashed. Some of them, like we can see in the last case of a 13-year-old-girl who refused to detonate the IEDs she was given, can tell you that these mad men in the garb of religion can go more than the extra-mile to recruit people to kill.

    “These are innocent girls who can be recruited by their own parents! This is arrant nonsense. Poverty.”

    On December 23, the police in Kano confirmed the arrest of a 13-year-old female suicide bomber and an accomplice who allegedly participated in the twin-bomb blasts that occurred on December 10, 2014 at the famous Kantin Kwari Market in the city, claiming 10 lives and injuring nine others. However, the 13-year-old suicide bomber, Zarau Babangida, who hails from Damaturu, Yobe State, confessed to reporters that she was recruited into Boko Haram activities by her parents, who lived in Bauchi State.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, who was flanked by the State Director of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS), said the arrest of the 13-year-old bomber and her accomplice was a result of the synergy between the police, the DSS, Army, Air force, Customs, Immigration, Prisons and NSCDC. Shinaba said the 13-year-old was arrested in an hospital where she was being treated after a commercial tricycle operator alerted the security agents that a suspected female suicide bomber had dropped an unknown item in his tricycle. Security agents swooped into action and subsequently arrested her.

    In her account, Zarau Babangida, narrated how she was recruited as a female suicide bomber wearing the hijab. She further stated that her parents took her to the Boko Haram training camp in Bauchi, where one of the trainers asked her whether she wanted to go to paradise. “He told me that if I refused, I would be buried alive. I had no option but to agree with his stand that I would like to make it to Paradise.

    “He told me that I had an assignment to carry out in Kano. After the necessary training, he told me that I and two other female bombers would travel to Kano to execute the assignment. After the executing the assignment, we would now be entitled to make paradise.

    “When we got to Kano, they took us straight to Kantin Kwari Market. When it was time for the execution, the accomplice told us to divide ourselves and take positions. The other two female suicide bombers detonated their concealed bombs while on my part, I vehemently refused to ignite mine.

    “As a result of my closeness to the two female bombers, I was injured on my left leg by the explosions.

    Due to the injury I sustained, I shouted for help. The commercial tricycle operator, who sympathised with me, took me to Dawanau, where we resided with my parents before.

    “However, before I dropped from the tricycle, I successfully removed the bomb concealed in my body and left it on the seat of the tricycle. When the tricycle operator saw it on the seat, he immediately dashed into the house where I was taking treatment and asked me whether I was the owner of the exhibit and I said it was mine.

    “At that time, I was about to be taken to the hospital. So, before the tricycle operators alerted the security agents, I was already in the hospital where I was being treated for the injury I sustained from the explosion. That was how I was arrested by the security agents at the hospital.

    “My parents enlisted me into Boko Haram activities because I did not know where they were taking me to. They handed me over to one of my trainers, who asked me whether I wanted to go to paradise and I answered in the affirmative. I will like to make paradise.”

    On August 2014, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Aderenle Shinaba, soaked with emotion, condemned the killing of nine persons and the injuring of six others by the two other female suicide bombers, saying: ”We are in very difficult times; a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. This one that happened here at the Administrative block of Kano State Polytechnic on Bayero University Kano road is frightening.

    “The incident occurred at about 3:30 pm. This situation calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible to deploym police officers in every strategic location.

    “So, at this critical time, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as the vigilance of everyone of us.

    “A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such a person have with graduates who are assembled to check their results of the Batch NYSC deployment? It is

    disheartening to note that when you see somebody around, who is looking like a primary or secondary school student to disguise with her hijab in our midst without anybody taking note.

    “We have been telling people about the issue of female teenage suicide bombers, which calls for the law enforcement agencies to be on the alert. Look for hijab-wearing female suicide bombers. Sentiments and religion should not be the issue. We should face the reality of tackling it headlong so as to avoid future occurrence.’’

    The Kano State Polytechnic incident was not the first time a female suicide bomber would terrorise the ancient city. On Monday, July 28, a female suicide bomber killed three persons at the NNPC Mega Station at Hotoro Quarters. The suicide bomber joined the kerosene queue at the station and detonated the bomb minutes later.

    The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Adenerele Tasheed Shinaba, confirmed the blast and said three persons were killed and 10 others injured.

    On the same day, another female suicide-bomber hit Zoo Road near Kano International Trade Fair. Though the 19-year-old female bomber killed herself in the process, six innocent Nigerians sustained various degrees of injuries.

    According to eyewitness account, the female suicide bomber, dressed in a hijab, got to the gate of the trade fair, but just as she tried to gain entry, securitymen at the gate insisted she must be frisked. In the process, she detonated the bomb and blew herself up. Two policemen were among those who got injured in the incident.

    Also before the Monday tragedy, Sunday, July 27 also left footprints of terrorism on Kano. In another suicide attack, which occurred at Kofar Nasarawa area of the city, a female bomber, in an attempt to lure some security men who were stationed by the North West gate with Sallah food, ended up blowing up herself.

    Also, it was gathered that the female bomber, who arrived at the scene under the newly constructed flyover at about 12:30 pm, made an attempt to deceive the security operatives that she had brought Sallah food for them, but the security men, who were on the alert, suspected a foul play, following the female bomber’s desperation.

    The security men, it was further gathered, took to their heels when they noticed that the female bomber was fast advancing towards them as they threatened to gun her down. However, nemesis caught up with the female bomber as the bomb she hid in her hijab exploded and consumed her.

    For both Muslim and Christian residents of Kano, the hijab, for now is an outfit to be dreaded. Also, it was gathered that the female bomber, who arrived at the scene under the newly constructed flyover at about 12:30 pm made an attempt to deceive the security operatives that she brought sallah food for them, but the security men, who were on alert, suspected foul play, following the female bomber’s desperation.

    The securitymen, it was further gathered, took to their heels when they noticed that the female bomber was fast advancing towards them, as they threatened to gun her down.  However, luck ran out of the female bomber, who secretly concealed the explosives under her hijab before nemesis caught up with her, when the bomb suddenly exploded and consumed her. For both Muslims and Christians, natives and non-natives in the ancient city, hijab wearing remains scary for now.

  • Minna: Two students in hijab nearly mobbed

    Two female undergraduate students of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Friday, were nearly lynched to death by irate members of the public when they were suspected and accused of being suicide bombers.

    The students who were dressed in hijab (Islamic apparel for women) were returning to resume school when some members of the public at Central mosque Minna raised alarm that the two ladies were suspected to be suicide bombers.

    Eye witness said that the two victims who were dressed covering all their bodies and faces were trying to walk across the frontage of the mosque when the jumat prayers were about to be said.

    Their mode of dressing and the bags they were carrying attracted the attention of other worshippers and this led to the raising of alarm but for Police intervention the two ladies would have been lynched to death. One of the victims was injured by the irate crowd and she is currently receiving treatment from Police Clinic in Minna.

    When contacted Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari confirmed the incident but said that the two victims were wrongly accused.

    “When the attention of our men on duty was drawn to the ladies, they were subjected to bodily search and their bags also whisked and nothing incriminating were found on them. We were able to establish that the two of them are returning students of FUT Minna. Their mode of dressing made people to suspect them.

    “It took the timely intervention of our men as members of the public had started to beat up one of the ladies leading to the point of sustaining some injuries and she is being treated at the Police Clinic,” Gambari state.

    The Police spokesman, who decried the mob action of members of the public, advised that Police should be allowed to do their work after complaint must have been lodged.

    According to the PPRO, “The crowd that came round when the ladies were been searched would have been affected should the suspects be suicide bombers and were carrying bombs”.

    The students are still been kept in Police custody.

  • Lagos lauds judgment on hijab

    Lagos lauds judgment on hijab

    The Lagos State Government has applauded the judgment of an Ikeja High Court which upheld the ban on the use of hijabs in primary and secondary schools in the state.

    The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye stated this in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday in its reaction to the judgment.

    Justice Modupe Onyeabor had last Friday, dismissed a suit filed by the Muslim  Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) seeking to quash an order of the state government banning use of hijab in schools.

    Justice Onyeabor held that the practice, if allowed would affect the secular nature of state.

    Ipaye said the state government is in the forefront of human rights promotion in Nigeria and will not deny its citizens their religious rights.

    The AG, however, observed that no right was absolute, adding that sometimes, public interest would justify some limitations, adding that uniforms are adopted for school children at the formative stages to encourage a sense of unity, discipline, organisation and orderliness.

    He noted that once deviations are allowed, conscious or unconscious group affiliations would crop up to promote prejudices, limit interactions and weaken the sense of unity among pupils of the same school.

    ‘With uniforms, students, teachers and other staff are less likely to focus on dressing or appearance as a means of determining status, religion or other socio-cultural affiliations.

    “Every student is equal and students are not able to tease or bully each other about the style, colour or quality of their clothing or their religious, social or cultural background’, he noted.

    He said uniformity will also encourage focus on school work and reduce social anxiety or animosity among students while enhancing confidence and all-round sense of belonging.

    Ipaye said that the government’s decision to refuse variations to the uniforms:

    “We need to first define the limits of this policy as it is not as extensive as some portray it to be. It is only applicable in government-owned primary and secondary schools where encouragement of free interaction among children from all social and religious backgrounds is a matter of state policy. Above the secondary school level, adult students can wear whatever they like, subject only to the dictates of their particular vocation or profession”.

    Even in the primary and secondary schools, Ipaye said, interested female Muslim students will be allowed to wear their hijab during Islamic Religious Knowledge classes and for afternoon or Jumat prayers.

    “Once any deviation is allowed for any reason, religious, cultural or personal, there will of course be no reason for disallowing another which may be requested on similar bases, Ipaye explained.

    In her ruling, Justice Onyeabor said Section 10 of the Constitution made Nigeria a secular state and that government must maintain neutrality at all times. She added that government has a duty to preserve the secular nature of the institutions concerned.

    She noted that since the public schools were being funded by the government, it was competent to issue dress codes and other guidelines to the students.

  • Judgment on hijab against the Constitution, says MSSN

    Judgment on hijab against the Constitution, says MSSN

    The Lagos area unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has described the decision of the Ikeja High Court to uphold the ban of hijabs in primary and secondary schools in the state as a rape on the constitution.

    Justice Grace Onyeabo last Friday ruled against the MSSN suit against the Lagos State government, saying such practice would affect the secular nature of state.

    The MSSN rejected the judgment, saying it would deny Muslim students their rights to observe a practise of their religion.

    The Amir (president), Kaamil Kalejaiye, accused the judge of neglecting facts and misinterpreting the law, stressing that the Constitution and international charters guaranteed the freedom of religion of everyone.

    Kalejaiye said: “It is shameful that the judge denied the students a right that is not only godly but also supported by the Constitution. Do we call that a misinterpretation of the constitution or rape on the law? We want to believe that the judge’s wisdom is not above the provision of the constitution. While we remain undaunted and won’t relent on our resolve to get female pupils dress according to Islam tenets, we reject in totality the judgment and urge every Muslims to do so.”

    The MSSN said it was only demanding enforcement of the right of Muslim student and not a favour from the government. Kalejaiye said the Society had started consultation with members and sympathisers, including parents to prepare for the next line of action.

    Kalejaiye insisted that the judgment was not fairly served, noting that the action of the government to allow the use of hijab during Islamic Religion Knowledge classes and Jumaat prayer showed that it was permissible.

    He added: “There is contradiction in the judgment and the provisions of the Constitution. While the judge claims that Nigeria is a secular state, the Constitution recognises two major religions, which are Islam and Christianity. It must be noted that the government finances the schools with tax paid by our parents and indirect tax by us. So, we have rights to demand for what is lawful under the Constitution.”

    The MSSN Amirah (female leader), Hafsah Badru, said hijab could not distort the secularity of the state. She said there had not been punishment for harassment of Muslim pupils for using hijab.

    “Some states in the Southwest, such as Ekiti have granted the use of Hijab in schools and they don’t have problem with maintaining their secularity as claimed by the judge. Why should Lagos be different? Wearing hijab is constitutional and must be seen as such,” Hajia Badru said.

    The counsel to the MSSN, Chief Gani Adetola-Kassim (SAN), said the Society would appeal the judgment.

    Adetola-Kassim said: “The court has spoken, but there are many issues to be considered, which means that we will appeal the judgment. We are simply not satisfied with the court decision. The angle through which the court looked at the issue was at variance with the provisions of the constitution. We will definitely appeal.”

  • Court upholds ban on hijab in Lagos schools

    Court upholds ban on hijab in Lagos schools

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja yesterday upheld the state government’s ban on the wearing of hijab in Lagos schools (primary and secondary).

    Justice Modupe Onyeabor,  in a suit filed against the government by the Muslim Students of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, through their lawyer, Chief Gani Adetola-Kazeem, SAN, held that the ban was not discriminatory.

    The group had argued that the ban was unconstitutional and infringed their female students’ right to freedom of thought, religion and education.

    Delivering judgment in the case filed on May 27, last  year, Justice Onyeabor dismissed the suit on grounds that it did not breach Sections 38 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the plaintiffs.

     The judge held that Nigeria’s secular nature as provided for in Section 10 of the Constitution must be preserved by the government.

    She said the uniformity sought by the government in the issuance of the dress code would be destroyed should the prayers of the plaintiffs be granted.

    According to Onyeabor, public schools are owned and funded by the government, hence the state has the right to issue guidelines and dress codes for students.

    The judge said: “The values of plurality and the respect for the rights of others who have subscribed to a non-faith based educational system cannot be breached.

    “In that effect, the issue is resolved in favour of the respondents and the suit is accordingly dismissed.”

    The state government had issued the prohibition on grounds that it was not part of the approved school uniform for students, but the plaintiffs, who said their students were being embarrassed and punished for practising their religion, had challenged the state’s directive.

    Making reference to an 11-year-old student, Aisha Alabi of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute Metta, who was flogged on February 5, 2013 at the assembly ground for not removing her hijab after an Iislmaic Religious Knowledge class where the veil is allowed, the group prayed the court to jettison the government’s order.

    It recalled that another student, Bareerah Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi, on February 20, last year, had her hijab removed and trampled on by the school principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, outside the school premises.

    The group had argued that the use of hijab was a compulsory religious obligation for Muslim ladies who have reached puberty age.

    “We are not demanding a full length hijab. We have exhibited a photograph of a simple hijab which still represents their school identity.

    “The colour of the hijab can conform to the school uniform. All we want is for the students to be allowed to use hijab.

    “If beret and caps are allowed for female students, hijab should not be an exemption,” the group argued.

  • We won’t accept ban on hijab, says JNI

    The Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI) has said it will not accept the banning of hijab use by Muslim women.

    JNI Secretary-General Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the inauguration of the secretariat of the Kaduna State chapter of the Council for Imams and Ulamas.

    He said the fact that some women, who wore hijab, were connected with bombings, did not mean that everybody wearing hijab is a potential bomber.

    Aliyu said security agencies should investigate if women wearing hijab to perpetrate evil are Muslims, and if they are, what is their motive.

    His words: “We Muslims are concerned about insecurity. Our brothers and sisters are being killed daily in the Northeast and other parts of the country. Today, Gwoza and Damboa are no more in existence, as they have been overrun by insurgents who are still advancing to take over other towns. This is what

    should be government’s concern and not the banning of hijab.”

    The Chairman of the Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna State, Sheikh Abubakar Usman Baban-Tune, urged the Federal Government to protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

    He said: “No reasonable government will keep quiet over the killings of its citizens.”

    Baban-Tune enjoined politicians to be patriotic and God-fearing to ensure a society free from unethical conduct.

    The Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Religious Affairs, Islamic Matters, Alhaji Abdurahman Mamoud, said Kaduna State government is working to ensure a peaceful coexistence among ethnic and religious groups.

    He assured that the government would not ban hijab, although some groups clamoured for it.

  • Students hold awareness on Hijab

    Female Muslim students at the Kogi State University, Anyigba, have held a sensitisation walk round the hostels to create awareness on hijab.

    Leading other students to observe the walk, the Ameerah, Tahaynat Baba, said the group decided to carry out the exercise to enlighten women on the need for head covering.

    She said it was erroneous to associate hijab with terrorism, adding that Islam is a religion of peace and not war.

    “We want people to know that the hijab protects the dignity of womanhood. It prevents other social ills such as molestation and sexual harassment. If a woman covers her body well, men will not be tempted in any way to say he wants to molest or harass her,” she stated.

  • Judgment in hijab suit Sept 26

    Justice Modupe  Onyeabo of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja has fixed September 26, for judgment in a suit filed by the Muslim Student Association of Nigeria (MSSN) against Lagos State Government over the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in the state’s primary and secondary schools.

    Justice  Onyeabo fixed the date after counsel to MSSN, Gani Adetola-Kaseem (SAN) and the Lagos State Solicitor-General, Lawal Pedro (SAN) argued and adopted their written submissions.

    The MSSN had sued the state government to court over the restriction of the use of the Hijab, on the ground that it violates their fundamental human rights.

    The Muslim students also argued that banning female students from using Hijab on or outside the premises of any educational institution in Lagos State “is wrongful and unconstitutional”.

    The MSSN had filed the case against the State Government along with two pupils, Miss Asiyat Abdulkareem and Miss Maryam Oyeniyi, who are the first and second applicants respectively.

    The two pupils, who are students of Atunrashe Junior High School, Surulere, Lagos State joined the suit as claimants through their fathers – Alhaji Owolabi Abdulkareem and Mr. Suleiman Oyeniyi.

    The defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole.

    At the resumed hearing of the matter last week, counsel to

    MSSN, Mr. Gani Adetola-Kaseem(SAN)  maintained that the essence of wearing Hijab by Muslim female is to prevent them from tempting people of the opposite sex or being tempted by them and also to protect their chastity as required by their religion, Islam.

    The lawyer also submitted that from Islamic point of view, womanhood is determined not by biological age or marriage but by the time a person has attained the age of puberty.

    He further stated that scientifically and from experience, the attainment of puberty varies between individual. Some females attain puberty as early as the age of nine years while others attain puberty at age 13 or more.

    Adetola-Kaseem contended that it is mandatory for all Muslim who have attained puberty to participate fully in the practice of Islam, including Islamic dressing mode, worship and fasting.

    He therefore urged the court to grant the application because the position of the Lagos State Government violate the religious rights of the applicants and it is the duty of the court to protect them.

    But the Solicitor General, Mr. Lawal Pedro(SAN) who represented the defendants argued that the wearing of uniforms in public primary and secondary schools is for identification of students from different schools in Lagos and that the standardised set of dress for students is meant to encourage a sense of unity, discipline organisations and orderliness the schools.