24th March,
2021
PRESS RELEASE :
MURIC TO REPS: DON’T LISTEN
TO CAN
The Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday moved against the hijab bill which has
scaled through the second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill is
titled ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill 2021’. CAN’s
opposition to the bill came through a statement issued yesterday by its
secretary, Joseph Daramola, who argued that legislating the
wearing of hijab in schools would lead to the trouble that the sponsors of the
bill may not be able to handle. Daramola claimed that the bill is ill-timed and
uncalled for.
But the Nigerian Islamic human rights
group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described CAN’s opposition to the
freedom bill as conservative and reactionary. MURIC urged lawmakers to go ahead
with the bill as it is not designed for hijab rights alone. The Muslim rights
advocacy argued that the bill also aims at liberating Nigerian workers and
women from discrimination.
MURIC reacted to CAN’s statement through
its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 24th March,
2021.
According to
MURIC, “CAN is not talking about morality, legality and justice in its
opposition to the bill. CAN is not interested in whether it is right or wrong.
The only thing CAN is interested in is to impose its own whims and caprices on
the lawmakers by threatening fire and brimstone. Imagine CAN’s words, ‘We are not against the wearing of hijab in public and Islamic
schools but our schools should not be included unless those states are looking
for trouble’.
“CAN refers to missionnary
schools which were taken over by the Gowon decree of 1974 as ‘our schools’.
That is a misnomer. Those schools ceased to be missionary schools a long time
ago. CAN will therefore be living in self-denial if it continues to refer to
them as ‘our schools’. These are schools being fully funded by the government.
Teachers’ appointments, promotion, salaries, entitlements, etc are in the hands
of government. Is their any doubt about who owns the schools? It should be
noted that both the Christians and Muslims were fully compensated when
government took over their schools.
“We note the use of the highly combustible word ‘trouble’
at the end of CAN’s sentence. Why must it be about ‘trouble’? Why not about the
law? Why not about fairness? Why not about equity? Why not about justice? CAN
is trying to scare the lawmakers. Its statement is full of threats. But we are
not bothered. The
process must take its due course. This is about law-making and the honourable
members are not morons. They know what the bill means from the point of law and
within the context of the Nigerian constitution. They have also been following
events around the country and even outside the shores of Nigeria.
“The job of the
people’s representatives is to enact laws that will liberate the citizens, laws
that will break the shackle of oppression, laws that will neutralise tyrants,
laws that will spell out the rights of the proletariat to the chagrin of the
bullying capitalist compradore bourgeoisie.
“CAN said the
bill is ‘ill-timed’. How can a bill seeking freedom from oppression be
ill-timed? Everyday is the day of freedom. Every moment is the moment of
liberty. It is only the 21st century disciples of Pieter Willem
Botha and F. W. de Klerk who remain ideologues of ‘No freedom today’. Those who
postpone the day of liberty live to crane their necks from the narrow confines
of their bedroom windows as liberty train cruises by.
“CAN said the
bill is uncalled for. They can say that to the marines. The cruel treatment of
female Muslim students by Christian teachers over hijab called for the bill.
The expulsion of Muslim students in the International School of the University
of Ibadan called for it. The expulsion of Miss Aisha Abdul Aleem from a
secondary school in Abeokuta called for it. The refusal to allow Amasa Firdaus
to be called to bar in the first instance called for it. Nay, this bill is not
only called, it is also chosen.
“The world is changing but CAN is averse to change.
Democracy has gone digital but CAN still sees it with analogue eyes. Even
colonialist Britain recognised the need to let people go. It granted
independence to countries within its empire decades ago. Today Britain allows
hijab in its schools. Go to Britain and see freedom. American schools allow
hijab. Canada, Latin America and the rest of Europe have seen the light. Baptist College in
Australia changed its school uniform to accommodate hijab-wearing students in
2019.
“But here in
Nigeria, CAN, an ultra-conservative body, wants to drag Nigerians back into
darkness after we have seen the light. It had better not be. CAN is the most
conservative and reactionary organisation in Nigeria today. CAN is neck deep in
gymnastic religiousity. The hijab bill
must go ahead. The people’s representatives must boldly march forward. Distinguished
reps must not allow CAN to scare this honourable House.
“Besides, this bill is not about hijab wearing
alone. It is about freedom from all sorts of discrimination in workplaces and
all public spaces. For instance, it will free a poor man from harassment if he
enters a five star hotel or empower him to sue anyone who attempts to embarrass
him. A female worker will be able to cite it if she is discriminated against on
account of her being a female.
“This is freedom
bill. It is the people’s bill but CAN wants to kill it. It is not only for
religion or hijab. It is about the people’s fundamental human rights.
Honourable members must not allow our oppressor to have his way. We seek the
protection of the distinguished members of the House from the tyranny of CAN.
“Fortunately we
are not in a military dispensation where CAN can just use its influence anyhow.
This is a democracy for crying out loud. Nigerian Muslims are entitled to the
dividends of democracy and sponsorship of bills in the legislature is one of
the dividends of democracy. In fact it is a major landmark.
“It is the selfish
wish of CAN to monopolise everything, including legislation. If it were
possible, CAN would turn back the hands of the clock and take Nigeria back to
apartheid South Africa where ‘Dogs and blacks not allowed’ to enter certain
clubs, swinmming pools, etc, except that CAN would replace the word ‘blacks’ with
‘Muslims’.
“MURIC therefore
urges honourable members of the House to ignore CAN’s rantings and go ahead
with the freedom from discrimination bill. We charge lawmakers to resist CAN’s
intimidation and coercion. This is the time for lawmakers to stand up for
justice, truth and righteousness.
“Nigerians are
yearning for freedom. The poor masses are working under severe conditions
particularly in expartriate companies. They are suffering and they are looking
up to their representatives for liberation. Extant laws are not enough to set
them free. This bill is exactly what they need to emancipate them from tyranny,
oppression and persecution. CAN is a distraction. Go ahead and do the job for
which you were elected. Set the people free.
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
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