“Muslims will not allow anyone to tamper with their right unchallenged. We are calling on government, those in positions of authority to intervene to ensure that this does not escalate. Hijab is a global phenomena, it is a God-given right. It is their right. We have seen case of judges, nurses and even uniform women in other countries putting on Hijab.”
The resolution by Board of Governors of University of Ibadan International School that there would be no going back on its ban of hijab wearing by female Muslim students in the school may not have settled the dust raised considering the implications of response by the Muslim Community to the action.
This is so as the Muslim Community of Oyo State, on Wednesday, warned that the purported Hijab ban in the school is a call for anarchy.
Addressing a joint press conference organised by Coalition of Muslim groups and the Muslim Parents’ Forum, UI International School, the General Secretary of Muslim Community Oyo state, Sheikh Ismail Busari, declared that Muslims in the state are ready to pursue the issue of wearing of Hijab at University of Ibadan International School to a logical conclusion.
According to the Muslim Community, there is the urgent need for the Federal Government and the National Assembly and those in positions of authority in the country to intervene in the ongoing controversy over the use of Hijab by female Muslim students at the University of Ibadan International School before it will escalate.
Sheikh Bisari pointed out that ” wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students is a God-given right which is enshrined in the constitution”.
“Muslims will not allow anyone to tamper with their right unchallenged. We are calling on government, those in positions of authority to intervene to ensure that this does not escalate. Hijab is a global phenomena, it is a God-given right. It is their right. We have seen case of judges, nurses and even uniform women in other countries putting on Hijab,” he said.
The DEFENDER reports that anti-Muslim controversies happen only in South West region of Nigeria where Afenifere and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in positions of authorities of public-related institutions across the region allegedly conspire not to give Muslims a chance to rise in a Yoruba Land where Muslims claim equal, if not higher, popular strength with Christians.
Sheikh Busari added, “We are calling on the Federal Government, government of Oyo state, the National Assembly, Minister of Education to intervene. We want the authority of University of Ibadan to intervene. We want the government, the national assembly to come to the aid of the school before it escalate. They are calling anarchy, we want those in government to come before our God-given right is tampered upon.
“We are notifying the government that the Muslim community of Oyo State will not want to allow the right of the female Muslim students to be tampered with. Hijab is a right under the constitution. We are calling on government to ensure that the right of our children is not tampered with. That they should desist from calling us names, they are calling us terrorists. Tell those victimising us to desist from victimising us. If Muslims can wear Hijab in USA, Britain and other countries, we are Nigerians, our children should be allowed to wear Hijab”.
Speaking at the press conference, the Chairman, Concerned Muslim Parents’ Forum of the school, Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun emphasized that the Muslim parents and their children have since been advocating for the use of Hijab in the school but with all efforts turned down by the school management.
Stressing that several letters were written to the management of the school on the issue are yet to be responded to, Alhaji Balogun said, “here we are, we want you to hear from our own side, we want you to hear our own side of the story.”.
” I am a parent, my children are in the school. They are profiling Muslim students separately. I have been to many countries, no one does that putting Muslims in a separate class and putting Christians in a separate class. We have written several letters to the principal but up till now they are yet to reply us. We have been suffering in silence”.
