Aftermath of ruling on Hijab, MURIC sues for peace

As ruling on use of hijab in public schools in Osun State continues to generate mixed reactions among religionists, Muslims faithful across the country have been urged to maintain peace and order in their course of clamouring for the enforcement of the court ruling on the matter.

The Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, however, called on the state government not to succumb to pressure from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and ensure that the rule of law prevails.

Akintola said: “We will not lose our heads in spite of this provocation. We call on Muslim students, Muslim youths in general and Muslim parents to remain calm. They should allow Nigerians to watch and fully enjoy this theatre of the absurd without being dragged into the list of the dramatis personae.”

Justice Oyedeji Falola of the Osun State High Court, Oshogbo, gave the ruling that approved the usage of hijab in the state public schools on June 3, 2016.

He said: “It is rather unfortunate that a religious body of the calibre of CAN has disrespected the judgement of a high court granting Allah-given fundamental human right to female Muslim students to use hijab. Nigerians can now see the true face of religious fanaticism. Something is fishy if Muslims take a case to court instead of going violent or even demonstrating and Christians now take the law into their hands. This is highly provocative.

“MURIC has always maintained that violence and terrorism must be traced to provocation simply because there can never be smoke without fire. The cause-effect theory must be properly examined before apportioning blames.

“Hijab is used freely in all public schools in the North because the Nigerian law allows its use. But the picture is different in the South where school authorities act a script written by CAN. But to be or not to be? That is the question. The court has made a pronouncement. We must decide who calls the shots: Osun CAN or the judiciary.” he said.