Hijab: Lagos gets 30-day ultimatum to issue circular on Court verdict

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria has given the Lagos State Government a 30-day ultimatum to issue a circular on the recently delivered judgement by the Supreme Court approving the use of hijab in Lagos schools.

According to PUNCH, the group gave the ultimatum during a press conference on Wednesday.Jamb Result

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Amir (president) MSSNLagos, Miftahudeen Thanni said, “This is not to castigate the Lagos State Government but to appeal for the prompt implementation of the Supreme Court judgement.

“We waited patiently to get the judgement and we were lawful throughout. During this period, we consulted, collaborated, protested, held rallies, and sensitised government officials on why a willing Muslim female should be allowed to put on the hijab.”

According to PUNCH, Miftahudeen added, “When the Lagos State Government issued the circular, we thought relief had come, but it is utterly unfortunate that some school authorities and some defective teachers are working against the circular. They are interested in ultimately jeopardising law and order.

“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.
“For no reason should a girl-child be denied education again in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole!

“The images of Muslim students sent out of the examination hall for wearing hijab touch the heart and consistently bring tears to the eyes. We do not want this to recur. The education of the girl-child is very paramount in our hearts. No Muslim girl should ever be told to choose between her faith and education. Both are her rights.

“We demand that the Lagos State Government should issue a circular within 30 days after the delivery of the judgement allowing Hijab. The Lagos State Government should sanction officials who go against the Supreme Court judgment and hold a meeting with MSSNLagos, Muslim leaders, and other Islamic organisations on the size and modalities of using the hijab.”

PUNCH reports that Asiyat AbdulKareem, who sued the Lagos State Government lamented that victimisation of Muslim students should stop.Information Guide Nigeria

He said, “We suffered to get this judgement and it is my hope that it will be an end to the victimisation someone like me suffered”.

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The Ameerah (female head) of MSSN, Lagos, Basheerah Majekodunmi also added, “We call on all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion to join this voice as part of solidarity with the Muslim women most especially the female secondary school students, who are brazenly and incessantly harassed and assaulted because they wear hijab to schools in their own country”.

As reported by PUNCH, the Executive Secretary of Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Shereefat Enessi, commended the Supreme Court for the judgement.

Enessi said, “It is not a victory for the Muslims alone, it is a victory for civilization, for democracy and for peace.

“We are not all Muslims and as such understanding, the importance of a religious command like hijab may not be easy, but at least we are all in the same boat that is Nigeria, pulling each other down would only take us all down”.

In his parts, the National Amir of MSSN, Uthman Abubakar who was represented by the General Secretary of MSSN Lagos, Hamzah AbdulFattah lamented that Muslim students have for long suffered discrimination.

He said, “The MSSN salutes the courage, understanding, and application of the Constitutional law as it is by the panel of the justices.

“The judgment is manifestly credible and guarantees as one of the fundamental Human Rights granted to Muslims and any other adherents of a religion”.

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