NIGERIA STUDENTS WANT HIJAB BAN LIFTED

Abuja, 18 Shawwal 1435/14 Agustus 2014 (MINA) – Muslims in the south-western Nigerian state of Ondo have reiterated calls for the government to allow hijab in the schools and offer places for Friday payers in the schools as a fundamental human right for Muslims.

“This is after the acquisition, compensation and rebuilding of these schools by the government,” said the President of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Ondo State Area Unit, Sherif Busari,on Thursday(14/8).

“It is a calculated attempt to further deny the Muslim students of access to free and qualitative education, and this is not in the interest of educational development in state and nation,”he said. Onislam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Several school principals in Ondo have banned hijab in and outside school premises, provoking calls to end ban on the Islamic headscarf. The MSSN has also demanded increasing the number of Arabic and Islam teachers, besides allocating prayer rooms for Muslim students.

On the other hand, the government vowed not to discriminate against Muslims students, announcing plans to employ more teachers for Arabic and Islamic studies.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol. The issue of hijab has become controversial in Nigeria’s southwest region where Muslims accuse public institutions of denying Muslim women/girls the right to wear hijab, as allowed by the constitution.

At least three court cases have been instituted at different instances, although a court ruling allowing hijab in public institution does exist. A few years ago, Lagos authorities have banned the wearing of hijab at schools.

The Muslim outfit is also outlawed in most south-western states. Muslims have sued the Lagos government on allowing Muslim students to wear the hijab at schools.

In May 2013, Lagos government officially applied for an out-of-court settlement on the wearing of hijab at public schools, ending the problem. Muslim leaders say that banning the headscarf violates the religious rights of Muslim students as spelt out in the Constitution.(T/Nidiya/P04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)