Muslim groups have called on the Lagos State government to caution overzealous School principals who are in the habit of intimidating female students for wearing hijab (head cover) in schools across the state.

The Director of MURIC, Prof. Isaq Akintola described such actions as infantile and condescending.

“It is now clear to everyone that some Lagos teachers have their anti-Muslim agenda. They just hate the sight of Muslims. We have no iota of doubt that the state government is unaware of the actions of these Muslim haters. The sad thing is that such teachers are tarnishing the image of the state government by their actions. It is quite disappointing that when the whole world is trying to encourage the girl- child to realise her full potential, some Lagos teachers are bent on retarding her progress by sending her out of school. We therefore call on Lagos State Government to protect the Muslim girl child.

“Apart from the Isolo incident, there have been six different instances where Allah-given fundamental rights of female Muslim students were violated in Lagos schools. All the six instances occurred in 2017 alone. This is apart from those reported earlier and those that were not reported. We have the names of the teachers involved in the six cases. We also know their schools. The records are in the cooler for appropriate legal action at a future date.

“Those claiming that there is religious tolerance in the Southwest can now see the fallacy in that claim. The reality is that Muslims are at the receiving end and the peace of the graveyard, which the region is enjoying now, is due to the uncommon resilience and astounding forbearance of Muslims.”

MURIC advised the state governor to allow sleeping dogs to lie. “Stop stirring the hornet’s nest. Let the Muslims go. The issue of hijab in particular has gone viral. It is now a matter of serious international concern. Advanced democracies of the world like Britain, Germany and the United States allow Muslims to use it in school. In the South West, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun have approved it. It remains Lagos and Ondo alone. What is the ‘center of excellence’ waiting for? Should the ‘center of excellence’ be the last to dish out a dividend of democracy?

He warned teachers and principals not to export their religious gymnastics to public schools. “Lagos State government should respect the decision of the Court of Appeal. That is the path of honour. Lagos as the center of excellence should walk its talk. Lagos has a moral duty to protect the Muslim girl child. It is the only path towards peaceful coexistence.

“Lagos authorities should not wait until Muslim students and their parents mobilise to schools where their daughters are abused, stigmatised and traumatised. The continuous harassment of the Muslim girl-child over hijab is a serious threat to public peace, a cog in the wheel of democracy, a drag on global best practices and a dent on the efforts of the state government to engender religious harmony,” he said.

The National President of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Dr. Luqman AbdurRaheem, said the action is an injustice to and a violation of the fundamental human rights of the affected students, a violation of their religious rights, and an assault on Lagos Muslim community.

He urged the state government to intervene by ordering an immediate investigation into the case and by calling the erring principal, Mrs. J.O Sadare to order with immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the students involved.

“Lagos government should sets up machinery to prevent future occurrence, by directing that circulars be passed down to all the state-owned educational institutions, which clearly prohibits or criminalises the harassment of hijab-wearing female students by any staff of state-owned educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary), pending a contrary ruling by Supreme court”, he said.

The Ameer, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, Dr. Saheed Ashafa said the recent lawlessness and disregard for rule of law exhibited by the state officials, who claimed to be acting on the order of their superiors in the Civil Service is not only unconstitutional but also a contempt.
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The wave of discriminations, harassment and maltreatment have begun to rear its ugly head in different schools in Lagos State again despite the subsisting Court of Appeal ruling.

“Some of the schools that recently witnessed this lawlessness are Matori Senior Grammar School, Isolo Comprehensive Junior High School, and Isolo Senior Secondary School,” he said.