(Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence)
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PRESS
CONFERENCE ON DENIAL OF HIJAB RIGHTS IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA ORGANISED BY THE
MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC) ON WORLD HIJAB DAY, 1ST FEBRUARY, 2019
AT MURIC’S NATIONAL HEADQUATERS, IBA, LAGOS STATE.
Friday,
1st February, 2019.
Leaders
of Islamic organisations here present,
The
Chief Imam of Iba and President, League of Alfas and Imams, Alhaji Imam Habeebullahi
Hasan Abanise,
The
Chief Imam of Lagos State University, Professor Moshood Taiwo Salisu
The
Chairman, LASU Muslim Community, Professor Jamiu Oluwatoki,
Gentlemen
of the Press,
As-Salaam
Alaykunm wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu
I
welcome you all to this Press Conference on Hijab Crisis in the South West. Let
me begin by calling your attention to the significance of our choice of today
to hold this event. Today, Friday 1st February, 2019 is being
observed as WORLD HIJAB DAY. Many events are taking place simultaneously in
several places in Nigeria and other countries of the world to mark the event.
This is why we have picked today to address this press conference.
HIJAB
CRISIS IN SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS:
You
are all aware of the proliferation of hijab crises in several schools around
the South West. About nine (9) female Muslim Students were locked out of their
schools’ gates at the University of Ibadan International School (UIS) because
they used hijab. Fifty-five (55) students were locked out of their schools’
gates at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International
School, Ogbomoso, for the same reason.
Some
of these infringements have been taken to court. Examples are those of UIS and Abeokuta
where nine-year-old Aisha AbdulAleem of Gateway Secondary School, Abeokuta, went
to court to enforce her Allah-given fundamental human rights because she was
disallowed from using hijab in the school.
An
interesting development is the overbearing involvement of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) in these cases. In the UIS case, CAN came in under
the guise of the Christian parents in the school. They sought to be joined in
the case. CAN did not disguise its identity in the Abeokuta case and it
mobilized many Christians who attended court during each hearing. The
atmosphere became so charged that the court authorities had to disallow both
Muslim and Christian supporters from entering the court at the last hearing on
Wednesday 23rd January, 2019.
Even
the traditionalists sought to be joined in the case. They appeared under the
aegis of Traditional Healers Association. We have no doubt, however, that the
traditionalist angle is still part of CAN’s manipulation.
We
hereby raise serious objection to the intervention of CAN in hijab cases
because the matter is for Muslims and it has nothing to do with Christians.
They have not complained about the existing school uniform because it suits
them. It is the Muslims who are complaining because it does not conform with
the rules of Islam.
The
current school uniform was designed by the British colonial masters before
independence. That uniform was designed to suit Christians because the
colonialists were Christians. Nigerian authorities should have reviewed it
after independence but they failed to do so. Muslims are seeking to use their
own because it is not suitable for female Muslim students as it contravenes
Islamic dress code for females. Schools where Muslim girls are not allowed to
use hijab are therefore forcing Muslim students to use Christian uniform.
This attitude is
neo-colonial, neo-imperial, oppressive, undemocratic, archaic and tyrannical.
It is an infringement on Section 38 (i) & (ii) which stipulates that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or
belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or
in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship,
teaching, practice and observance’’
It is disheartening
that although Muslims in the South West choose peaceful conduct instead of
resorting to violence, our Christian neighbours still will not let us be. There
is no doubt that Muslims who go to court over the violation of their hijab
rights are taking the civilized and peaceful option. But Christians in
Yorubaland under the aegis of CAN still seek to frustrate them by joining the
cases in the court. But here is the paradox, the confusion. Did the Muslims
take CAN to court? Did they take Christians to court? The answer is capital NO.
The Muslims sued the school authorities or the state government. What, then, is
CAN’s problem in the South West? CAN’s attitude symbolizes acrobatic
religiousity.
A good example is the Osun hijab imbroglio which occurred about
four years ago. The Muslims took the state government to court and won the
case. The state government therefore allowed the female Muslim students to use
hijab but the Osun chapter of CAN went haywire. The leaders instructed
Christian students to wear church garments to school instead of their normal
school uniforms just to create confusion. So they came in white robes,
celestial garments and church choir dresses. They also incited traditionalists
to appear in masquerade gears to school!
But a church garment is for church affairs only. It is an
aberration to wear it to school. It is an anomaly to wear it when visiting a
friend. Which parent will send his son or daughter to the market while dressed
as a masquerade? That is the ridiculous, insipid and pedestrian level that
gymnastic spirituality and articulated neo-imperialism has driven CAN to in
Yorubaland. That is why they are contesting every court case on hijab with
Muslims.
Meanwhile MURIC is
keenly watching the court proceedings in the ongoing hijab cases in Ibadan and
Abeokuta. We warn the Oyo and Ogun chapters of CAN not to make any attempt at
perverting the course of justice. We know what they are capable of doing. We
have no doubt that the current travails of the high and powerful in the
judiciary is enough to send a strong message to the courts handling the hijab
cases.
LAGOS SCHOOLS
DISALLOWING USE OF HIJAB:
Despite
the fact that the constitution is on our side and some state governments have
actually issued positive directives, some recalcitrant and fanatical Christian
school principals are still frustrating our efforts. Lagos State is an example.
The Court of Appeal gave victory to Muslims but the state government appealed
to the Supreme Court. An attempt to secure stay of action was turned down. Yet
the state government did not allow the use of hijab until late in November
2019.
To date many Christian principals and teachers refuse to allow
hijab in their schools. Unfortunately the state government has not mustered the
political will to walk its talk. They
should have made scape goats of those who disregard their circular on hijab but
nothing has been done till now. Even outside the school premises, Christian teachers
beat up our daughters for using the same hijab legalised by a court
pronouncement and approved by the government.
WAEC REGISTRATION AND ‘CAPTURING’:
You are also not
unaware of recent ugly developments in the ongoing registration exercise for
the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Some school authorities ask female
Muslim students to remove their hijabs before their pictures are taken. This is
absolutely illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. We have reports about such
schools and we are certain that WAEC did not issue such instruction.
Some schools where
this obnoxious practice is going on have been reported to us. Among them are
Adeolu Senior Secondary School, Oluwa Memorial Senior Secondary School, Ajeromi
Ifelodun Senior High School, Ojoku Senior Secondary School, Cardoso Juniopr
High School. Lagos State Government Secondary School, Ijanikin, Ajangbadi
Senior High School, Oto-Awori Senior Grammar School and Iba Housing Estate
Senior Secondary School.
The case of Iba Housing Estate Senior Secondary School is
didactic because MURIC’s Hijab Task Force (HITAF) personally led by the
director caught the school red handed on Wednesday 16th January,
2019 as they were tormenting female Muslim students. The official in charge of
the ‘capturing’ exercise told us point blank that the instruction was from
WAEC. We challenged him to call WAEC office because WAEC has consistently
denied involvement in making Muslim students remove their hijab. He made the
phone call to his phony contact and later told us that ‘WAEC’ had agreed that
the Muslim girls could use hijab. We have a video clip of this hypocritical and
malicious encounter.
This incident made us
realise that there is a conspiracy against Muslims of the South West. Those
behind the plot are determined to frustrate Muslims in the region in their
effort to emancipate the Muslim girl child from the shackles of
neo-imperialism. It is religious profiling, systematic stigmatization and
methodical apartheid. It is a crime against humanity.
That incident alone made
us realise that we must change our strategy. It is time to mobilise Yoruba
Muslims, particularly the nonchalant parents to get involved in the struggle to
liberate the Muslim girl-child.
What
is MURIC's plan?
We
have seen that the solution lies in the hands of Muslims themselves. Allah said
He would not change the condition of a people until they change their ways (Qur'an
13 :11). Yoruba Muslims have been lackadaisical. They care very little about
what happens to their children particularly in the schools.
Yoruba Muslims have forgotten that freedom is
never given on a platter of gold. They forgot how Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
struggled before his followers could enjoy freedom. They have failed to learn
from the travails of Nelson Mandela, Thomas Sankara, Steve Biko, Martin Luther King,
Ken Saro Wiwa, Gani Fawehinmi, etc who had to fight for the freedom of their
people before they enjoyed it.
MURIC
seizes the opportunity of this press conference to appeal to Muslims in all
states in Yorubaland to organize themselves for peaceful resistance. They must stand
up for their rights. We do not mean any violent struggle but peaceful protests
and occupations. Nobody will fight for us except ourselves. We must emancipate ourselves
from neo-colonial slavery.
The
courts have made favourable pronouncements, yet school authorities refuse to
obey. The state governments have approved hijab, yet fanatical principals and
teachers are still persecuting our daughters. Enough is enough. Government and
the security agents will not do anything until we Muslims exhibit the political
will to liberate ourselves. It is time for action. It is time for determined
yet peaceful activism. We are ready for a long struggle and we are certain that
victory is ours in the end because our cause is just. We have been pushed to
the wall.
Every
mosque and every Islamic organization in Yorubaland must set up an 'Hijab Task Force'
(HITAF) to be pronounced 'high taf'. The role of HITAF is to monitor all
schools (public and private) and prepare for quick response wherever female Muslim
students are being harassed. MURIC in conjunction with other willing Islamic
organizations will set up a control room to be called 'Hijab Control Room' (HICOR)
There
will be an hijab task force in every mosque, every local government and every
state in Yorubaland. We will not rest until freedom is achieved. We are taking
this step because the hijab crisis is expanding everyday. Our oppressors have
become emboldened by our docility. Yoruba Muslims are too silent and things are
likely to get worse if nothing is done to stop it.
Great
Nigerian Muslims! We are involving you in order to take the struggle to the
grassroots and to create greater awareness. We receive too many complaints
everyday. We have therefore decided to decentralise.
Every Muslim must know his Allah-given
fundamental human rights. Nobody can take these civil liberties from you. Speak
out against oppression. Protect yourself, your wife, your mother and your
daughter from persecution. Unless you do this, our oppressors will soon be
removing hijab from their heads inside commercial vehicles, on the streets and
in other public places. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
This
is a quiet revolution. MURIC is determined to change this e fi won le mentality, a docile mindset of the present generation
of Yoruba Muslims. We must become an active and enlightened set of people. Every
Yoruba Muslim must be involved.
All
members of hijab task forces must therefore be peaceful and orderly. You are
ambassadors of Islam. Instead of using force or becoming violent, HITAF
should beat bandiri drums and sing waka songs. Muslim women also have the
chance of joining HITAF. They will be useful in rendering Asalatu songs with
their melodious voices.
HITAF is expected to go to schools in their neighbourhood where
hijab is illegally disallowed. Without necessarily resorting to violence,
parents in conjunction with their Muslim communities must find ways of
deterring teachers who beat or punish their daughters for using hijab such that
it is not repeated again. Such methods may include Islamic means but not
excluding resort to legal mechanism by inviting security agencies where
necessary.
Our young daughters look up to us for protection and guidance
and as such we have a duty in loco
parentis to rally behind them. We cannot afford to fail them. They are most
likely to blame us for abandoning them in time of need if we fail to rise now
before it is too late. Failure to support them now may result in the girls
losing hope and abandoning their parents’ faith.
In view of the fact that school principals and teachers are
disobeying government’s directives, flouting the constitution and illegally punishing
Muslim students and depriving them of their Allah-given fundamental human
rights, Yoruba Muslims are left with no choice than to protect their daughters.
Those who make laws difficult to obey make it impossible for
people not to disobey. In the same manner, those who give illegal and Satanic
instructions to Muslim children in schools make it impossible for the students
not to disobey. This is why Nelson Mandela said, “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty”.
The silence of civil society
is worrisome but we are not surprised. Western-oriented human rights
organisations have never shown any interest in the plight of Muslims. It is as
if Muslims are not considered human beings by them. But they forget that this
was the same parochial and myopic view held by the apartheid South African
regime and it collapsed when the blacks united against it. So will the
oppressors of Muslims be defeated if the Muslims can rise to the occasion.
This
is why every Muslim must be a revolutionary. A Muslim who is docile in the face
of persecution is living in a state of manzilatun
bayn al-manzilatayn (i.e. though he is still a Muslim but he has failed to
stand up for justice as enjoined in Qur’an 16:90 or to follow the example of
Prophet Muhammad as the latter declared in his hadith: “Whoever sees evil
should change it with his hands…” man raa
minkunm munkaran...
We hereby declare 2019 the Year of Hijab Rights in Nigeria.
Professor
Ishaq Akintola, Alhaji Yakeen Williams
DIRECTOR, GENERAL SECRETARY
