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Tag: Hijab

BREAKING: Supreme Court Approves Use of Hijab in Lagos schools
The Supreme Court on Friday overruled Lagos State on its restriction of the use of hijab by female Muslim students of public schools in the state.
In a split decision of five to two of a seven-member panel, the Supreme Court affirmed the July 21, 2016 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which set aside the October 17, 2014 judgment by Justice Grace Onyeabo of the High Court of Lagos State, which upheld the hijab restriction.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who wrote the lead majority judgment, which was read on Friday by Justice Tijani Abubakar, dismissed the appeal filed by Lagos State against the 2016 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, on the grounds that the appeal was without merit.
Details later.
June 17, 2022
Kwara Hijab Crisis: Police foot-dragging over killing of Muslim student–MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Saturday, accused the Kwara State Police Command of foot-dragging over the killing of a Muslim student of Baptist High School, Ijagbo in Oyun Local Government of Kwara State during a peaceful protest.
Habeeb Idris, a student of Baptist High School, Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government of Kwara State was shot dead during a protest over hijab.
Four other students sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Following this, MURIC on Saturday said the struggle for Hijab has entered another phase with the killing of a Muslim protester.
The director of the faith-based human rights advocacy group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement expressed
disappointment over the attitude of the police in Kwara State.
He questioned the insensitivity of the police on the case, describing it as culpable homicide, adding that, Habeeb must not die in vain.
The statement said there must be consequences for thuggery and hooliganism and the use of dangerous weapons against innocent students.
He said Habeeb Idris paid the supreme sacrifice in the struggle for the actualisation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of female Muslim students to use hijab, adding that his death signals another landmark in the history of the civil rights struggles by Yoruba Muslims.
February 5, 2022
FUNAAB Management meets Muslim Students over hijab and Niqob (veil) crisis in the University
The Management of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) following Intel Region’s report concerning the ban of Niqob (veil) for all Muslims interested in studying or visiting the University environment.
Our correspondence had earlier reported that the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) was the first public institution to pronounce a ban on a religious dressing, niqob (veil), considered as a fundamental human right by the Constitution of Nigeria.
The announcement of the ban created an uproar from Muslim faithful and human right activists across the University, Nigeria and the world, citing that the University has no right to ban a fundamental human right and more also should not compare Niqob with mini-skirt tagging them as lousy/immoral.
In a meeting on Monday, between the University administration, the University Muslim Community and the Muslim Students of the University (MSSN-FUNAAB), the University Management headed by the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, assured the Muslims that the decision of the Senate which placed a ban on the use of Niqob (Veil) shall be revisited.
According to the University Management, they are unaware of the signpost comparing Hijab and Niqob with mini-skirt, citing that it has been initially removed but resurfaced without their consent. It was reported that the School has ordered an investigation into how it resurfaced.
Speaking on the meeting held between the University, the Muslim Community and MSSN-FUNAAB, the Ameer (Leader) of the MSSN said in a press release on Monday that the University Administration under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako assured that no student will be victimized or have their rights trampled upon by the University.
The statement reads:
“Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
“Dear Brethren,
“The leadership of MSSN FUNAAB seize this medium to register our heartfelt appreciation for your support, concerns, prayers, and most importantly, your fervent display of peace towards the ongoing issue of Niqab in FUNAAB. We thought it wise to give an update on the development so far;
“Earlier today, a meeting was held between the University management, the leadership of the Muslim community, and the leadership of MSSN FUNAAB on conversations that border around the uprising on the issue of Niqab. At the meeting, the leadership of the Muslim community alongside the leadership of MSSN FUNAAB, unanimously expressed our standpoint that “The use of Niqab is a part of Islam, and a fundamental human right for anyone who chose to tow the path of using the Niqab”, and the following resolutions were made;
“1. The University Management assured that the directive of the senate which placed a ban on the use of Niqab in the University, shall be revisited.
“2. The University Management unequivocally absolved itself from the issue of the signpost that resurfaced, and immediately issued an order to investigate the resurfacing of the signpost.
“3. The University Management assured that no student will neither be victimized, nor have any of their rights violated on the accounts of expression of religion.
“In light of the above, we implore all our members and the general public, to remain ever peaceful, and continue to repose their trust in the leadership of MSSN FUNAAB, and the FUNAAB Muslim Community, as we continue on this journey.” [END]
November 30, 2021
Hijab Controversy: Christians, Muslims Clash As Kwara Govt Reopens Schools
Violence erupted on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital after the state government reopened 10 schools shut last month over the use of hijab by Muslim female students.
The violence started after Christian officials of Baptist School, Surulere disallowed the girls in Hijab from gaining access into the school.
This did not go down well with Muslim parents, leading to arguments and eventual clash.
The situation grew worse as angry Christian and Muslim faithful threw various objects including stones and plastic chairs at themselves.
The security operatives close to the school had to call for reinforcement to calm the situation. The operatives dispersed them with tear gas.
The hijab controversy started over three weeks ago when officials of Saint Anthony Secondary School prevented Muslim female students from gaining entrance to the school claiming that it is a missionary school.
Several meetings were held between Muslim and Christian leaders to resolve the issue with the government temporarily closing down the ten schools until the reopening on Wednesday morning.
The ownership of the ten schools is still pending in the Supreme Court as both the High Court and Appeal Court affirmed the state government as the owner.
The Christians angered by the situation said the government should wait for the outcome of the judgement of the Supreme Court before fully taking over the schools.
The Kwara state government has taken over all the missionary schools owned by Christian and Muslims since 1974.
The school reopening was announced on Tuesday night by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Kemi Adeosun.
Mrs Adeosun said, “The government is convinced that its policy to allow willing Muslim schoolgirls to wear their hijab (face covering) in public schools will lead to sustainable peace and communal harmony anchored on mutual respect and understanding.
“This path to mutual respect, understanding, and peace with regards to hijaab had long been adopted in all of the northern Nigeria and many states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States.
“As the students resume normal classes, the government took special notice of the plight of those of them preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and hereby directs affected schools to hold at least two-hour extra lesson for all the intending candidates after school hours daily.”
The Kwara State government had earlier in February shut 10 grant-aided schools as the controversy surrounding the use of the head covering was yet abated.
March 17, 2021