Muslim groups decry criminalisation of hijab use

Muslim organisations in Nigeria have stated that hijab use should not be criminalised but instead be seen as a right of faithful. They made the statement yesterday to mark World Hijab Day.

The groups also expressed satisfaction over the ruling of the Supreme Court on the hijab controversy and called on states that are yet to comply to do.

The bodies that championed the cause include Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN Lagos), Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria Lagos State Area Unit, The Criterion, Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), Al Muminaat: The Believing Women Organisation, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Pristine Cactus Foundation.

Others are International Muslim Women Union (IMWU), Pure Heart Islamic Foundation (PHF Lagos), Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, Islamic Medical association of Nigeria (IMAN), Akhawat, Izarul Haq Movement of Nigeria, Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque (LSCCM) and An-Nujabau Female Forum.

The convener/Executive Director, Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, said the global movement is a united voice against the criminalisation, discrimination and oppression of Muslim women due to practice and observance of their religious codes.

“WHD was born 11 years and the movement is now being observed in 190 countries around the world, “ she said.”

She noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Progression not Oppression’, was to remind people that Hijab was legislated and sanctioned for Muslim women over 1,400 years ago.

Ameerah FOMWAN Lagos State, Alhaja Sherifat Ajagbe, called on government to protect woman from the incessant gender-based violence in the country.