A Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women has called on the National Assembly to enact laws that would protect Muslim women from discrimination while donning hijabs, especially for official purposes.
In a press conference in Abuja to mark 2021 World Hijab Day, Rukayyah Dindi, the group’s focal person, said profiling of hijabites constitutes violation of their constitution rights. She urged the public to view the hijab as part of a Muslim woman completing her faith and not just putting on an attire.
“It is our sincere hope that in distant future, we will have a legislature that backs this demand. We hope the law, when passed, prescribes a penalty for anyone that disdainfully discriminates, abuses or denies any hijabite such rights, freedom and opportunities that other citizens enjoy,” she said.
While expressed sadness on how female Muslims students are prosecuted in schools for using hijabs on their school uniforms, especially in the South-West, she called for a general review of the dress code in all professions “where uniforms or specific designs are used to allow female Muslims wear suitable hijab without discrimination.”
The spokesperson of the group, Hajia Rahmatu Musa Sani, noted that a law gives an institutional backing to the use of hijab, consequently, allowing security institutions and private organizations to have a change of mind on its use in their professions.
Ending hijabophobia
In Lagos, another coalition of 15 Muslim organizations, said there are raising awareness on social media to end hijabophobia.
They said the awareness has become imperative as school administrators, government agencies and the private sector have consistently harassed and molested women in hijab despite the constitutional rights to use hijab.
According to them, government agencies continuously insisted women must remove their hijab while capturing their data for international passports, National Identification Numbers, driver’s license, among others.
They also listed several cases of harassment of female in hijab in several government-owned secondary schools as well as during WAEC and JAMB examinations.
The convener of Hijab Rights Advocacy Group, Barr. Mutiat Orolu told our Correspondent, “The Court of Appeal has upheld the use of the hijab as being in consonance with the provisions of Section 38(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), hence, a fundamental right. To deny any Muslim Woman or girl who so desires to wear the Hijab from doing so, is discriminatory.
“We have also recorded several cases, where public services like NIMC registration, UTME exams and even banks are located in facilities owned by the church, Muslim women in Hijab are denied entry, our daughters have had to take off their Hijabs in order to write UTME exams or even collect their ATM cards.”
She added: “Data capturing for biometrics is another hurdle Muslim Women in Hijab must cross. While the constitutional provisions support the wearing of the hijab and the Nigeria Biometrics Standards Regulations, 2017 (Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 117 1st November, 2017 Vol. 104) as well as guidelines on Biometric Standards published by the National Identity Management Commission states “If an applicant wears a head covering for religious purposes (e.g. hijabs) or on medical grounds (e.g. eye patches), a photograph of the applicant wearing it will be accepted provided all facial features from bottom of the chin to top of the forehead (including both edges of the applicant’s face) are clearly shown.
“Muslim women are still forced to either bare their ears or remove their hijab completely especially when applying for international passports.”
Good conduct
The Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has urged Muslim women to motivate others to use hijab by exhibiting good conduct.
Makinde, who spoke at a programme in commemoration of 2021 World Hijab Day organised by Al-Akhwaatul Muslimah Organisation, an Islamic group in Oyo State, said “good character of the regular users (of hijab) will serve as a motivating factor for others to join them.” The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Rasheed AbdulAzeez, urged all parents to encourage their children to wear Hijab.
AbdulAzeez noted that Muslims enjoy their full share of the dividend of democracy in his government.
He charged the people especially politicians to desist from campaign of calumny and engage in constructive criticism to enhance development of the state.
Earlier, the Amirah of Al-Akhwaatul Muslimah Organisation, Alhaja Bashirat Ashim, said hijab was not fashion but a dress code to encourage morals in Muslim women.
She said wearing of hijab has nothing to do with social vices such as Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria as believed by some people.
By Faruk Shuaibu (Abuja), Risikat Ramoni (Lagos) & Jeremiah Oke (Ibadan)
