Posted by Ogun State schoolgirls have been asked to begin wearing a headscarf in the classrooms.
The League of Imams and Alfas of Ogun State issued this call at its meeting in December, which was held in the state’s capital, Abeokuta.
All Muslim female students in Ogun were instructed by Islamic clerics to begin wearing hijabs at the state’s public schools.
They claimed that the declaration came after a recent discussion they had with the State administration regarding the requirement that their female children cover themselves with a hijab while attending government-run schools.
Following the meeting on Tuesday, the Islamic leaders issued a statement under the signature of its Secretary General, Sheikh Tajudeen Adewunmi, stating that the hijab will be worn beginning on January 9 of 2023, when classes will resume for the second term.
Only “desiring and willing female Muslim students may wear a white color shoulder-length cape hijab when they resume for the second term of the 2022/2023 academic session on Monday, January 9, 2023 and thereafter without any fear of harassment or punishment,” they made it clear.
The statement read partly that, “Many female Muslim students in Nigeria, and Ogun State in particular have continued to feature unnecessarily in many protracted cases of infringements on their rights in their quest to practice their religion, especially as regards the use of hijab in schools.
“However, the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s decision, which upheld Muslim students’ freedom to wear the hijab as they pleased, has put an end to any questions or disputes surrounding the issue.
It should also be noted that despite the fact that Muslim students who wear the hijab have consistently been physically assaulted, embarrassed, or otherwise humiliated over the years, many government agencies in Ogun State have consistently stated that there is no law at all that prohibits them from doing so.
“The rights and freedoms granted by God, which are also protected by the law of the land, are not subject to approval or formality.”
The clerics association begged the State government to issue a warning to teachers and school administrators to stop violating the human rights of Muslim female pupils and to accept the hijab’s acceptance in schools.
“We request the State government to warn overzealous and religious intolerant individuals among school heads and teachers as well as others who might want to take laws into their own hands by preventing Muslim students who are willing to express their fundamental human right.
“The Muslim Community had noted the previous intolerance and disdain from non Muslim teachers and heads of schools against Muslim students on this matter, which include (but not limited to) molestation, affliction of physical injury and many forms of harassment.
“The hitherto tolerance from Muslims has been taken for granted and the Muslim community will not hesitate to take necessary actions against any individual that could frustrate the desire and the efforts in the exercise of the rights of any Muslim in any form or guise,” they warned.