22nd August, 2018
PRESS
RELEASE:
INEC AD HOC STAFF DISENFRANCHISING MUSLIM
WOMEN
Thousands of Muslim women from the South West may not be able to vote in the 2019 general elections due to alleged overzealousness on the part of some ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who have been disallowing them from registering as voters.
This
concern was raised by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a press statement
released early on Wednesday, 22nd August, 2018. The human rights organization
reported that women in hijab are being disenfranchised right from the PVC
Registration Centers.
According
to the leader of the organization, Ishaq Akintola, “Muslim women are being asked
to remove their hijab before capturing can take place. Some are asked to draw
back the hijab from their faces to expose their ears. Of course the whole world
knows that it is a taboo for Muslim women in hijab to expose their hair or ears.
The Muslim women who refused to remove their hijab or to expose their ears are
being turned back without being registered. This is unacceptable.
“It is cultural profiling. We are going to
use every legitimate means to resist this aggression against Islam. We smell a
rat. Religious fanatics have infested INEC’s ad hoc staff and their mission is to frustrate prospective Muslim voters.
They want to reduce Muslim voting power in the sub-region.
“The
INEC ad hoc staff who commit this atrocity claim that they are following
instructions from their head office. This is an old trick and a common line of
argument. It suggests conspiracy. It means anti-Muslim elements have taken over
in INEC head offices in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Ondo and Akure (capitals
of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states). This abuse is widespread
particularly in Lagos State but INEC may want to focus its attention on its office
at Arigbanla Road, Orile-Agege LCDA, Iyana ipaja, very close to NYSC camp.
MURIC traced the history of the disenfranchisement
of Muslims to 2003 elections. “The disenfranchisement of Muslims in the South
West has great antiquity because this same scenario played itself out in 2003,
2007, 2011 and 2015 and we complained on each occasion. We are surprised that
it is happening again.
“We
wrote INEC’s head office in Lagos in 2003 when Muslim males were being asked to
remove their caps and turbans while the women were asked to remove their hijab
before they could be registered for the national identity card scheme. The head
office did nothing until we were forced to march on the streets to their
office. Is INEC also daring us? It had better not be because we can march again.
“How can INEC allow Muslims to be treated
like second hand citizens? We are disappointed. Is the system ready to
integrate Muslims at all? Can the Nigerian nation enjoy peace where a large
religious group is constantly marginalized and oppressed? Havent we had enough
religious crisis? Should certain public officers take actions capable of
precipitating religious violence?
“MURIC will not stand akimbo while Muslims
are turned into mere laughing stock. We affirm our Allah-given fundamental
right to vote and be voted for. We demand equal opportunities in all aspects of
the Nigerian life. In particular, we assert clearly, emphatically and
unequivocally that obtaining voters’ cards is the right of every Nigerian citizen
regardless of creed, ethnic background, profession or level of education.
“We
appeal to INEC national headquarters to intervene urgently. We suspect that
the national headquarters may not be aware of what is going on in the South
West. It shows that voter awareness
campaign alone is not enough. INEC should intensify staff training and
enlightenment. Ad hoc officials as the first direct contact with the public
need to be properly educated so as
not to cause civil unrest over the ongoing PVC registration.
“We cannot trivialize the issue of PVC. Apart from
using it for voting, it can be used for various official transactions. The
implication is that Muslim women who are denied access to PVC are deprived of
their Allah-given fundamental right to perform their civic responsibilities
like voting for their preferred candidates. They are also robbed of the right
to possess means of identification whenever the need arises.
Worse still, Muslims who are coerced into agreeing to
remove their hijab during capture will forever face the ignominy of being
requested to remove their hijab each time they attempt to use their PVCs as
means of identification. Why should Muslims be turned into dregs of the
society? Why should we be made to face perpetual embarrassment? Is it not
better to be free men in our graves than live as puppets and slaves?
“MURIC deplores the hypocrisy being exhibited by the
elites of South Western Nigeria against Muslims. Every effort is calculated
towards stigmatizing Muslims. It is interesting that this atrocity is not
committed anywhere in the North. No Muslim male or female is being asked to
remove any part of his or her dress. This is symptomatic of mischief. Muslims
in the South West are being singled out for marginalization. There is no
gainsaying the fact that the marginalization of a large section of the Nigerian
population is a threat to our nascent democracy.
“As a palliative
measure and in the interest of justice and fairplay, we demand further
extention of the registration deadline to enable those Muslim women who were
maltreated by high-handed ad hoc officials to return for registration. We also suggest that INEC headquarters should draft
more ad hoc staff to the South West and open more registration centers.
“In our closing remarks, we appeal to Muslims
nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding. However, we urge them to intensify
efforts aimed at obtaining their PVCs, to maintain decorum at the registration
centers even while being firm and uncompromising in matters of their Muslim
identity and to be on alert for any announcement from INEC. Eternal vigilance
is the price of freedom”.
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
