Muslim Women Calls For Actions Against Anti-Hijab Sentiments

Hijab wearing is a contentious subject in Nigeria, as some institutions and organizations deny women the right to wear it, resulting in embarrassing circumstances while calls for authorities to act against discrimination continue.
A case in point was in March 2021, when Christian groups mobilised and barricaded some schools to protest the directive announced by the Kwara State Government that all public schools should respect the rights of Muslim students to wear the head covering if they choose to.
Another was in November 2021, when the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Ogun state, placed a ban on the use of hijab and niqab by Muslim female students on campus.
Also in December 2021, Noheemat, a Muslim youth corps member posted to Akwa Ibom State was harassed and prevented from using hijab by the Camp Officials until Muslim groups and government authorities intervened.
Some women wearing Hijabs in other countries including Germany, France, Canada also suffer similar discrimination.
“We therefore still have a lot of work to do. We will continue to push forward and need all the support we can get from citizens, the three arms of government, media, religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, civil society groups, and all relevant bodies,” Nigerian Muslim Women said at a press conference held on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Coalition noted that it has not changed its focus of constructive engagement with all relevant stakeholders and the general Nigerian public.
“This stance aims to drive the simple message that the hijab is the Muslim Woman and she is the hijab.
She can participate effectively in all public undertakings with the Hijab.
Her right to wear it in public is guaranteed by our laws and should be protected by the symbols of authority in all spheres of life. She should therefore not suffer any harm by exercising this right,’ the Coalition said.
The Coalition called on Hijabis (wearers of hijab), to utilize its cover proudly, in a positive and productive manner so that they are maximally useful and beneficial to themselves and the society.
“We call on all people, our fellow compatriots, institutions, leaders and those in positions of authority to see our hijab as an enabler, not an inhibitor.
We are saying ‘we are ok’, ‘we symbolize nothing but good’, and as in the common parlance that says ‘dress the way you want to be addressed’, we plead to the world to ‘address us the way we are dressed’.
They should treat it with respect and understanding, as a tool and a vehicle for inclusiveness, a paved road to reach out to both the most remote and excluded populations of women & children and the nearest and more visible ones.”
Muslim Women also urged that governments at all levels create and provide services that cater to all, including those whose appearance is defined by their belief and obedience to a command from the divine creator.
The Coalition called on the National Assembly to introduce and pass laws that serve the interest of all citizens and which protect the rights and freedoms of all to education, health, employment, finance, homeownership, careers, etc. regardless of what one wears.
“We call on the Ministry of Education at the federal and state levels to pay attention to unnecessary victimization of students which has become a recurring decimal in our schools and institutions.
“We call on the National Youth Service Corps authorities to introduce an optional set of uniforms for Muslim female corps members that desire to appear in modest clothing.
They should also set up a monitoring mechanism at orientation camps to ensure no corps member is denied the right to protect the sanctity of her beliefs by removing her hijab or being forced to wear items such as short nickers.”
Meanwhile, the Coalition, during its hijab awareness outreach on Saturday at Unity Fountain, Abuja, got two reverts (a male and a female) who accepted Islam. See the videos below: