The Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women has called for the lifting of all restrictions and discrimination against the usage of the hijab and hijab users nationally and globally, creating awareness of its usage as well as campaigning against its prohibition,castigation and maltreatment of its wearers.
The Coalition which is made up of numerous Muslim women groups including FOMWAN, NAFSAT, Women in Da’awah, MESH, Ansarudeen, Al-Habbiya, JADAFIA,CRITERIUM, Hijab Rights Advocacy lnitiative, Muslims Schools in Abuja amongst others made this clarion call at a world press conference to mark the Eleventh World Hijab Day on the 1st of February 2024 at Fouad Lababidi Islamic Academy Wuse Zone 3 Abuja.
Prominent dignitaries and speakers that graced the occasion included Hajiya Ramatu Omidi Omirinde, Hajiya Firdausa Amasa Esq, Hajiya Rahmatu Sani, Hajiya Rukayat Dindi Esq, Hajiya Oladipupo Khadijat amongst others.
The Coalition stated that the wearing of the hijab is both a religious obligation and a constitutional right and decried the fact that despite decade long sensitisation through the World Hijab Day lnitiative and other platforms across the globe, the painstakingly clear provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended on Freedom of Religion, Conscience and Thought ( s.38 & s.41) and the numerous decided cases on this subject, Muslim women and girls continue to go through continuous harrasment and discrimination in schools, work places, capturing/ visa application centre and other public places for the singular act of donning the hijab.
Thus the Coalition in reaction stressed that ‘the right to wear the hijab and observe our religious code is well spelt out and protected.
Our focus revolves around advocating for the recognition and protection of the rights to wear the hijab without fear of harm or prejudice.This commitment extends to all segments of society, emphasizing that the symbols of authority in every sphere of life should safeguard this right. The symbols of authority from the National Assembly, the State Houses of Assembly, to school authorities, states and employers will have to protect this right. We are committed to spreading this message through all possible ways until it is widely understood and embraced. It is therefore important to accentuate the strength in wearing the hijab. The hijab is a sign of freedom, empowerment and strength for the wearer and even the admirer’ the Coalition emphasised. The Muslim Women Coalition cited several instances of anti-hijab sentiments globally including the United Kingdom, were the ruling of the European Court of Justice allowing employers to restrict the display of religious symbols in certain conditions put hijab wearers at a disadvantage in the labour market. In 2023, in France the French education minister, Gabriel decided to ban the wearing of the abaya, a long garment worn by Muslim women that covers the whole body except the face, hands and feet, The minister alleged that the abaya violates the rules and regulations of France, which is quite laughable. In Nigeria a peaceful protest by Muslim students in Kwara State against the ban on hijabs by a Baptist school degenerated into violence against the Muslim students and uptill today, no form of apology or compensation has been paid to the victims. In May 2023, at Oloso Police Station, Lagos State one Muyibat Animashaun was harassed and intimidated by police officers, stripped off her hijab and detained. In March 2023, the Hijab Rights Advocacy lnitiative received reports of the harassment of Muslim students and youth corpers in some states including Kogi State as a result of the wearing of hijab and those cases are presently undergoing investigation.
The Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women condemns in the strongest terms all manners of harassment, intimidation, discrimination and oppression of Hijabis and calls for those involved in such unlawful practices to be discouraged and sanctioned accordingly. The Coalition also called on the Hijabis to utilize its cover proudly, in a positive and productive manner; to all people, our fellow compatriots, institutions,leaders and those in authority to see our hijab as an enabler, not an inhibitor; on our governments at all levels to 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 and educating the girl child in order to produce mothers who are educated and will in turn educate their mothers.
Also 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,home ownership,careers, etc regardless of what one wears and on the Ministry of Education at the federal and state levels to pay attention to the unnecessary victimisation of students which has become a recurring decimal in our schools and institutions.
While commending the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Police Force for allowing the wearing of headscarves by female Muslim officers as part of their uniforms, the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women called on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) authorities to introduce an optional set of uniforms for Muslim female corps members that desire to appear in modest clothing and should not compel any Muslim corp member especially female to adorn indecent dress code under any guise whatsoever.
The Coalition also enjoined the media as the fourth estate of the realm, the conscience of society to do their part by carrying forth the Hijab message with a positive and responsible outlook.
“We rely on your support as listeners, teachers, and ambassadors of your brands to demonstrate that we are not alone in advocacy of this noble cause. lndeed the media has a huge responsibility, to spread, project and disseminate the message, values and beliefs of the Hijab observance’.- the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women’s communique added.
