The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the alleged forceful removal of hijab from Muslim sisters by the police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The petition, signed by Fatima Aliyu Adam on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (AFIMN), against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Benneth Igwe, described the action as a taboo capable of igniting a crisis in the country.
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IMN said the “deliberately parading Muslim sisters without hijab” in the FCT Police Command, as well as the subsequent broadcast of pictures and videos from the scene, is an insult to not just the victims but to Islam as a whole.
IMN also alleged that the Muslim sisters were abused while in detention, and some of the abuses were captured in a video taken by a police officer.
“The Muslim sisters were seriously abused while in detention, and some of the abuses were captured in a one-minute, twenty-one-second video taken by a police officer within the premises of the FCT Police Command and shared in a WhatsApp group of the police community in the FCT Abuja, and later on 26 August 2024, the video went viral on social media,” the petition reads.
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“The video shows how the police forcefully removed the hijab of our Muslim sisters while in police detention. The Muslim sisters were arrested on Sunday, 25 August, during the 2024 Abuja Arba’een Symbolic Trek, an annual religious procession in commemoration of the assassination of Imam Hussaini (AS), grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
“We are to further draw the attention of the Executive Secretary to pictures of people arrested during the 2024 Abuja Arba’een Symbolic Trek paraded by the police on 28 August 2024 to newsmen at SARS Abattoir. The pictures taken by the newsmen also showed our Muslim sisters without hijab.
“Hijab has a rich history and significance in Islam, with roots in the Qur’an and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).”
The petition was copied to the Country Director of Amnesty International, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
IMN added, “It is pertinent to state that for a public officer to blaspheme Islam in Nigeria is capable of causing discontent, unpredictable predicaments, and conflict. You may wish to recall that previous hijab issues led to heated debates, violence, and even school closures.
“This letter serves as a petition against Kayode Egbetokun, the IGP, and Benneth Igweh, AIG, for blasphemy against Islam.
“We therefore demand a forensic investigation into the forceful removal of Muslim sisters’ hijab by the FCT Police to unravel the perpetrators of this taboo, which is capable of igniting a crisis in the country in order to avoid its reoccurrence.”
