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Tag: World Hijab Day

  • Thousands rally against ‘hijab discrimination’

    Thousands of Muslim women and students yesterday stormed the streets of Lagos to express displeasure about their continuous harassment in schools and workplaces.

    They said that despite their peaceful nature, they were being molested and victimised for putting on the hijab.

    The women, who held an awareness rally, were members of Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation, Federation of Muslim Women Association (FOMWAN), Nasrul- lahi -li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and Organization of Tadhamunul Muslimeen (OTM) among others.

    During the rally, the aggrieved Muslims displayed placards with inscriptions promoting the acceptance of the use of hijab in Lagos State and Nigeria.

    Clad in different hijabs, they move from Maryland (SUBEB) to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park Ojota. Another group walked from Roundabout bus stop Otto to Cele bus stop Ijanikin. The third group moved from Joju roundabout to Sango Roundabout.

    The rally was organised in commemoration of the 2019 World Hijab Day (WHD).

    Speaking with reporters, the Amirah (President) of Al-Mu’minaat in Lagos State, Alhaja Khadijah Abdus-Salam, lamented that government officials are “assaulting” school girls and female Muslims for wearing Hijab.

    She said: “It is noteworthy that this year’s WHD commemoration is with mixed feelings for on one hand, we are happy that the awareness and campaign had gained considerate momentum so much that it is marked in so many countries. However, the antagonists of Hijab project have unabatedly continued their projects and persecution of our school girls and women in Hijab. Some school principals assaulted school girls for no reasons other than wearing Hijab, why this?

    “Hijab is not a symbol of oppression. It is freedom from disrespect, prying eyes of lustful men in the society. We are treated differently and looked upon differently because of what we wear, some look at Hijab as a form of enslavement, it is not, rather it’s liberation. We are being harassed with a metal detector, body search and passing through an extra security check, why? Enough is Enough! Stop this discrimination! Hijab tells those I meet to deal with my intellect and not to focus on my body.

    “Hijab has come to stay, it is a divine injunction and the word of our Lord is True. We say to the world; Let us be! Let the Hijabis make their choice, don’t design what we should wear, our Lord is the Best Designer. It is not something that I might want or not want to do; it is something I have to do. Does wearing Hijab affect you personally or has an effect on the society? Let us be! It is so infuriating when my Hijab is used as a symbol for their ignorance and worse indeed.”

    The representative of NASFAT, Mujeedat Abajo Musa, described hijab as a constitutional right that is capable of reducing rape in the society.

    Read also: Police arrest man for allegedly producing bullets

    She said: “Hijab is a constitutional right. With hijab, the issue of rape can be reduced in a state like Lagos. For peace to reign, we want them to respect us.”

    MSSN representative Hajia Rahmah Olaoluwa, urged Muslim women to be bold to put on their hijab.

    “Our hijab is our right. We should never be shy to defend ourselves. We should always speak up. As Muslims, we must be free from oppression. Let us be free to put on our hijab anywhere, including schools. You have a legal right to wear the hijab, enjoy it,” she said.

    FOMWAN’s representative Hajia Rofiat Owonikoko, said that Islamic organisations won’t stop engaging the government and appropriate authorities if hijab harassment persists.

    “Hijab is Allah’s injunction. Our hijab is our own Permanent Voters Card (PVC). The time for us to take massive action has come. Hijab cannot continue to be a sign of oppression,” she said.

    Reacting to why hijab-wearing Muslims are being harassed in Nigeria, Hajia Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, Coordinator of Social Advocacy Project (SAP), said: “I think it is bigotry and Islamophobia. Everywhere in the world, there is freedom of religion. If you don’t deny other peoples’ right, why should you be disturbed to practice your own right? People in foreign schools are not denied their right to use the hijab, why should ours be different?”

     

     

  • MSSN to sue WAEC official for slapping pupil in Hijab

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria ( MSSN ), Lagos State Area Unit on Thursday said it will sue an official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) who slapped a pupil for refusing to remove her hijab during registration of WAEC.

    Its Amirah (Female President), Hajia Basheerah Majekodunmi, told reporters on today during a briefing in Lagos to mark the World Hijab Day.

    She lamented the incessant harassment and molestation of the pupils in hijab.

    This, she said, has subjected some of them to emotional trauma.

    She said: “In the hands of government officials, especially teachers in public schools, our members are regular victims of physical and verbal assaults. The recent one being the slapping of a pupil at Ikosi High School by an official of West African Examination Council (WAEC) for resisting to pull off her hijab during registration of WAEC. WAEC authority has said that hijab did not affect registration of pupils. Why would an official of WAEC do such thing? He was sent to register pupils and not to assault them. He will surely meet us in court.

    “Other hijab assault cases abound from Agbede Community Grammar School to Yewa Grammar School in Ikorodu and Iba Estate Senior High School in Ojo. We met with authorities of these schools and they apologised.”

    Hajia Majekodunmi expressed sadness that despite the circular issued by the Lagos State Government and the judgement of the Appeal Court favouring the use of hijab, female Muslim pupils are still facing tough times in and outside the school premises.

    “When the Lagos State Government issued the circular, we thought relief had come, but it is utterly unfortunate that some school authorities and some deviant teachers are working against the circular.

    “Instead of obeying the circular, some school principals, vice principals and teachers feign ignorance of the approval of hijab in Lagos State, and desperately began to deal with our members. We have constantly reported some of these cases to the government but little result is seen and some have been taken up legally. We call on the government to caution its officials,” she said.

    Majekodunmi urged WAEC authority to caution its members to stop violating Nigeria constitution and existing judgement that affirm the right to use hijab by female Muslim pupils.

    “We are a peaceful community and we have respect for democratic values and the rule of law, but we will not allow our fundamental human rights to be tampered with. It’s utterly sad that we are experiencing too much of assaults and abuses on the Muslim female folks, because they are wearing hijab. This discrimination is too much, and it has to stop! The government has to criminalise assaults against people wearing hijab,” she said.

  • Hijab wearing: Controversies, fictions and facts

    Hijab wearing: Controversies, fictions and facts

    The World Hijab Day is held every Feb. 1 in the year to promote religious tolerance, solidarity with Muslim women worldwide, emphasize the religious values of the use of hijab, and correct misconceptions about the veil, among others.

    Muslims believe that in Islam, hijab (veil) wearing connotes the principle of modesty; and the most visible form of hijab is the head covering that many Muslim women wear.

    Hajiya Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, coordinator of Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, said in Lagos during the celebration of the day said hijab wearing was an added religious duty for Muslim women and asking them to remove it amounted to discrimination and oppression.

    “One thing we all seem to agree on is that violence against women is wrong in all its forms, whether it is physical, emotional or psychological,’’ she said.

    The Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women that organised the 2017 edition of the day with the theme: “#IStandForHijab”, said the theme was a strong message of support and encouragement for hijab users.

    During the observance, the coalition insisted that wearing hijab was a fundamental right of the Muslim women.

    The group noted opposition to the Muslim women’s right to wearing hijab had risen in recent times that should attract the attention of the concerned.

    According to it, hijab wearing has become a serious issue in Nigeria following attempts by some schools and government agencies to ban or restrict its use.

    “Among issues that dominated public discourse on hijab recently included the Appeal Court lifting of a High Court imposed ban on hijab in Lagos schools by which the court upheld the wearing of hijab as fundamental rights of Muslim women and girls.

    “Also in June 2016, a High Court in Osun legalised the use of hijab by Muslim students that generated a lot of controversy,’’ the coalition observed.

    Muslim faithful have also observed that public opinion about the Muslim women’s hijab has generated controversies to the extent that some critics believe that hijab wearers are involved in the Boko Haram insurgency in the northern part of the country.

    They note further that there is need to state facts about the usage of hijab; more so, when some of the female bombers have been reported to be in veil — hijab— to commit crimes.

    Malam Abdulwahab Salami, a cleric, insisted that “hijab is an Arabic word which connotes barrier or partition but with a broader meaning — modest dressing– both males and females’’.

    Irrespective of this explanation, cynics have often asked why Islam has made the wearing of hijab somewhat compulsory for women.

    According to Salami, Islam introduces hijab as part of the decency and modesty in interaction among members of the opposite sex.

    “It is the most appropriate thing to forestall any lust from the opposite sex because men are by nature subjected to lust and inordinate ambition towards the opposite sex.

    “Wearing of hijab contributes to the stability and preservation of marriage and family by eliminating the chances of extramarital affairs and compelling men to focus on the real personality of the woman and de-emphasising her physical beauty,’’ he said.

    Hajia Aisha Yusuf-Umar, a member of the coalition, nonetheless, opined that focus on constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders and the general public would suffice in addressing the negative perception of wearing of hijab.

    “The stance will help to drive the simple message that the hijab is the Muslim women’s and she is the hijab.

    “This is the message we will keep spreading through available means until it receives clear comprehension and accommodation and the support of those who believe in this course.

    “Hijab gives the Muslim women the freewill, the ability and the choice to contribute to the public space in a way and manner that is more comfortable, unrestricted and in conformity with the values of modesty and responsibility,’’ she said.

    Yusuf-Umar called on Nigerians to support and solicit the right to hijab wearing to promote common humanity, encourage development and create harmony in the society.

    “It is quite noteworthy that the hijab is receiving the right kind of advocacy and support in many western countries where army and police uniforms have been modified to accommodate the Muslim women’s rights.

    “For instance, the U.S. Army has issued a directive allowing Muslim women to wear religious head coverings.

    “Canada and Scotland in 2016 also adopted new rules allowing female police officers to wear hijab in an attempt to attract more Muslim women to the profession.

    “The Police in Norway and UK also permit wearing the hijab as part of police uniform,’’ she observed.

    She pleaded with the media to champion the course of promoting hijab wearing, noting that it would enable the local population to appreciate the universal nature of the need for positive advocacy irrespective of difference in faith or beliefs.

    “We seek to reiterate our genuine concern over unnecessary hardship faced by Muslim students, female youth corps members, applicants for national and international identification documents and female employees in the corporate world because of hijab wearing,’’ she said.

    Yusuf-Umar, therefore, called on Muslims and others to invest time and resources in understanding and promote the common values for development, security and social justices that would further unite the country.

  • World hijab day: Don encourages Muslim women

    World hijab day: Don encourages Muslim women

    A lecturer in the University of Lagos, College of Medicine, Professor Fatima Abdul-Kareem has admonished Muslim women in the country not to yield to intimidation and harassment over the use of Hijab.
    Abdul-Kareem, spoke yesterday at a public lecture organised in commemoration of World Hijab Day, by the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque.
    AbddulKareem who recalled her personal experience in the hands of some overzealous government and international agencies added that she had stood her ground and refused to put off her Hijab when forced to do so.
    She said the persistent harassment and intimidation of women in Hijab, requires immediate attention from the government as this infringed on the right of the citizens.
    She stressed that it was unlawful, unfair to insist that women should remove their hijabs when taking passport at the immigration offices or banks, saying the removal of hijab was needless since it would bring about a new identity of the person who dresses in hijab.
    According to her, “I have encountered such but I stood my ground. I explained to them that my identity is in hijab and that’s how I appear everywhere I go. So, if I remove my hijab for the passport, it will not be me anymore because it will amount to a strange identity. I go about in hijab anywhere I want to go since the passport is expected to represent me, taking the passport with my identity which is in hijab will only be ideal. Sometimes one is forced to remove the ear before taking passport what has passport got to do with my identity. I have travelled to almost every part of the world with my hijab without harassment why should I be in my own country?”
    Also speaking, Aisha Adams, the Women Affairs Secretary of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, urged women in Hijab not to be despair with the attacks, harassment, saying that hijab-wearing was obedience to the injunction of God Almighty.
    She said it was unlawful that no government law prescribed discrimination of women in Hijab, adding that practice must be checked through a pronouncement by the government.
    “When some people chose to be exposing their body and the society doesn’t have a problem with them, why should there be a problem with those who cover their body as commanded by God Almighty?”

  • Rallies mark World Hijab Day in Lagos

    Rallies mark World Hijab Day in Lagos

    •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.

     

  • Lagos, Ogun mark World Hijab Day

    Lagos, Ogun mark World Hijab Day

    Last Saturday, Muslims across the world celebrated the World Hijab Day. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was at a walk organised by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit from Maryland to Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos to join the rest of the world in the celebration.

    Last Saturday, millions of women, (Muslims and non-Muslims) gathered at different locations to commemorate a day globally set aside to mark what the Muslim women regard as their pride – the Hijab.

    The movement, started by a New York resident, Nazma Khan on February 1, 2013 to foster religious tolerance and understanding by inviting women non-Muslims in particular to experience the use of Hijab for one day.

    The World Hijab Day is also in recognition of Marwa El-Sherbini who was stabbed to death in a German court by Alex Wiens in Dresden on February 1st, 2009, for wearing Hijab. This happened in the presence of her husband who was also shot by the police that mistook him for the criminal.

    Ms Khan, a social activist and resident of the United States once said: “Growing up in the Bronx, in New York City, I experienced a great deal of discrimination due to my hijab. When I entered university after 9/11 attacks, I was called Osama bin Laden or terrorist. It was awful. I figured the only way to end discrimination is if we ask our fellow sisters to experience hijab themselves.”

    Hijab is an injunction from Almighty Allah to all Muslims women. The Holy Quran says in Surah 33 verse 59: “O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, daughters and the believing women that they should draw their outer garments over their persons. That is more proper, so that they may be recognised and not bothered. Allah is forgiving, merciful.”

    This year’s theme is: “Better Awareness; Greater Understanding; Peaceful World;” and the goal is: to foster global religious tolerance through Hijab awareness.

    It was learnt that various mosques across the globe seized the opportunity of last Friday’s Jumat Service to rally worshippers for the celebration.

    The day was marked in over 120 countries with millions of women wearing the hijab.

    In Nigeria, the World Hijab Day was celebrated in different states including Abuja, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo and Osun states.

    In Abuja, at ThisDay Dome in the Central Business District of Abuja, wife of the Vice-President, Hajia Amina Sambo addressed a large gathering to mark the day.

    Muslims women came out in various colours and styles of the Hijab.

    Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were the wife of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed; Hajiya Aisha Dukku and Senator Khairat Gwadabe.

    Hajiya Sambo reminded the gathering that both Christianity and Islam preach the covering of women’s hair.

    She enjoined Muslims wearing hijab to be proud of their dressing, as well as proud of themselves as Muslims wherever they go.

    Highlights of the event include drama by children, a Hijab show by MID Collections, hijab exhibition and free distribution of hijabs.

    In Lagos, Amirah (Female President) of the Muslim Student’s Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit (LSAU), Hajia Hafsah Badru addressed over a thousand women and girls at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota after a long walk from Maryland bus stop to Ojota.

    Pupils and students of various primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions were there in large number.

    As early as 7:00am, the Muslim women have been gathering at Maryland bus stop in preparation for the rally. The procession started around 9:00am.

    Residents, marketers, commuters and bystanders along the popular Ikorodu roads marvelled at the orderly manner the rally was conducted.

    They had some cardboards with different writings which include: ‘The wrapped sweet is better than the unwrapped ones,’ ‘the covered sister is better than the uncovered ones’, ‘stop this victimisation, it is my pride, obedience to Allah has come to stay, no doubt about it’, ‘nudity is immoral’, ‘hijab is dignity’ and ‘hijab is the cloth of believers.’

    Others had, ‘come and experience the sweetness of hijab with us’ and ‘emulate the mother of Jesus Christ, used the hijab free of charge.’

    Tracts on the essence of the World Hijab Day were distributed to virtually all the road users.

    The large crowd chanted praises of Allah – La ila ila llahu (There is no other God except Allah), Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest) along the line which drew attention of people at distance.

    They also shouted words include ‘no hijab, no vote’.

    Getting to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota with its greenery atmosphere, some of the women laid flat to regain strength after the long walk. Some of them removed their shoes on the way to find comfort during the rally.

    Addressing the crowd, Hajia Badru shouted Kabirullah, the crowd responded Allahu Akbar!

    She saluted them for making the day a success by not indulging in violence or untoward acts.

    “You have once again showed the world that our religion is all about peace and good mannerism. I salute your courage, I salute your discipline and doggedness. We shall be victorious,” she said. The crowd replied saying “Insha Allah (God’s willing).”

    According to her, “the use of hijab symbolises obedience to Allah, curbing immorality in the society and a divine injunction.

    Why addressing the crowd, including journalists, Hajia Badru decried the alarming rate of immorality in the society.

    She said: “The increasing of unwanted pregnancies is worrisome, the culture of nudity and bestiality is being glorified and nudity – induced rape cases are fast getting out of hand. An estimated of 16 million girls between the age of 14-18 fall victim on yearly basis to these avoidable tragedies.

    “The concept of morality in our contemporary world is that no part of a woman is private; a woman can only exercise her rights when she adopts shameless western mode of fashion. At the same time, tags those who chose to be chaste in outlook as uncivilised and not modern. What is considered as fashionable is dressing which unveils female erogenous zones in the name of liberty. Fashion can be modern without being nude. We support civilisation but not nudity.

    “Hijab is an apparel of honour, a garment of modesty and a shield against immorality. It is our pride. It is our dignity.”

    Hajia Badru called on the Lagos State government not to politicise the issue of Hijab.

    “Our appeal goes to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to consider our demand on the issue of Hijab. We are neither seeking a favour nor asking for a privilege; we are simply demanding our rights. This is an opportunity for our governor to write his name in gold by simply do the needful. It is a wind of change which no one can stop; for if he refuses to grant it, another rights-conscious administrator will definitely grant it, it is a matter of time!

    “It is important to note here that Hijab has been granted by Muslim minority states, how much more Lagos State with Muslim majority. It still baffles us that while a Christian governor in Southwest, Nigeria is aiding Allah’s work, a Muslim governor in the same region is frustrating it!

    “As we join millions of people, both Muslim and non-Muslims all over the world to celebrate this great event, we strongly appeal to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party to intervene in this matter, else we may be forced to mobilise the entire Nigerian Muslim Students to vote against any anti-Islam government come 2015.

    Enough of playing politics with our morality, enough of playing politics with our dignity and enough of playing politics with our rights.”

    Also, speaking at the park, MSSN University of Lagos Amirah, Shakirah Oduwole said the rally was to call the attention of Lagosians to their plight.

    “It is what Allah has instructed us to do and we shall do it, we cannot compromise this because it is a mandatory on all Muslims women,” Oduwole said.

    A member of the MSSN Hajia Ganiyat Owolabi who dressed her two-year old daughter, Nusaybah in hijab said she did so, to give her sense of belonging.

    “My daughter always asks for her hijab whenever we are going out even if I forget; I am very comfortable every time I use it because I see it as an honour and part of modesty,” Mrs Owolabi said.

    At Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque Hall, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, various organisations converged to mark the day.

    They include MSSN, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, The Young Muslim Women Association, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), among others.

    Mrs Afusat Ogunkoya of MSSN Ijebu area council, describes that the use of Hijaab as a fundamental right of every Muslim women across the world with no exception to Nigeria.

    She called on the state governments to declare the use of Hijab in all schools, hospitals, private and public establishments legal, adding that any act of molestation, embarrassments, humiliation, harassment and assault would not be condoned from any individual, organisation or public functionaries.

    A procession was held from Ijebu-Ode Central Mosque to Lagos garage and end at the Chief Imam of Ijebuland’s residence.