Al-Mu’minaat, other Muslim organisations demand equal rights for hijabis in Nigeria

AL-MU’NINAAT (The Believing Women Organisation) and a coalition of Muslim organisations in Nigeria have called on government at all levels to ensure that hijab-wearing Muslim women and girls are given equal rights as other citizens in the society

Al-Mu’minaat, at a press conference on Wednesday addressed by its amirah (president), Hajiya Nimatullah AbdulQuadri, to commemorate this year’s World Hijab Day, held at the organisation’s national headquarters in Jibowu, Lagos, expressed sadness that despite the provisions of the Nigerian constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly, Muslim women and girls are still being subjected to persecution, ridicule, oppression and injustice because they choose wear hijab.

The World Hijab Day is commemorated on February 1. The event this year, which has been themed ‘Unity in Diversity’ globally, will be observed tomorrow (Saturday).

The organisation noted that government policies and laws protect the rights of women to wear the hijab but alleged that fanatical non-Muslims in positions of authority “spare no opportunity to victimize” Muslim women and girls for “daring to change the narrative of backwardness and failure” by striving for excellence even with their hijabs.

It said: “Innumerable incidents of discrimination, denial, persecution, profiling and harassment abound even in public institutions, especially ministries, departments and agencies, institutions powered by our taxes.

“These must stop forthwith. After all, the Nigerian constitution, as we have it today, still recognises and protects religious freedom.

“Al-Mu’minaat asserts unequivocally that it is criminal to harass Muslim women, deny their rights, profile them or discriminate against them in any manner whatsoever just because they choose to exercise their rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion by wearing the hijab.

“The hijab is a religious duty and the divine identity of the Muslim woman enjoined upon her by the Lord of the universe.

“Image capturing for Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS), driver’s licence at the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), international passport at the Nigerian Immigration Service and national identity card at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has become burdensome for Muslim women.

“They are insulted, ridiculed and molested by officials in these organisations to remove their head covers or expose their ears even though their faces and fingerprints are visible.

“A point to note here is that if an image is captured with the ears exposed, the image captured will not match those of their bearers, as Muslim women always show up in public places with their full hijab. So, the essence of identification is defeated. Capturing the full face is also in line with international best practices. Hijab is the identity of the Muslim women the world over. To deny that fact is to be vicious and intolerant.

“The narratives have changed. We shall no longer allow the biases and stereotypes of failure and backwardness to linger in the Muslim community register.

“Our success stories continue to speak for what we represent. Sisters in hijab and even face veils are performing excellently at all levels of education and in various disciplines. The Muslim woman won’t be left behind any longer.”

The organisation described girl-child education as critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but expressed disappointment that those “bigots in secondary schools, in collaboration with overzealous WAEC staff in southern Nigeria,” still deny Muslim students education and registration for critical examinations because of hijab.

“Several Muslim girls have been physically assaulted by having their hijabs ripped off their heads due to hate and extremism. The denial of Muslim girls education and assault on women in hijab is a rape of justice and genocide against the Muslim community.

“This is because some parents may deny their female children education due to the oppression. This will further increase the already poor girl-child enrolment figures, increase the number of out-of-school children and ensure a continuation of the cycle of ignorance, backwardness and, of course, poverty.

“Muslim women in the military and paramilitary are forced to do away with their hijab. This is a denial of their rights. The constitution seeks to protect all citizens and so Muslims in all professions, the military inclusive, must be allowed to be Muslims indeed. It only enhances inclusivity, tolerance and ensures nobody is left behind.

“We hereby demand that Muslim ladies serving the nation in the National Youth Services Corps (NYSC) and in military and paramilitary agencies be allowed to use the hijab.

“We shall not surrender to those who will not allow us exercise our constitutional rights while we are not trespassing on theirs. For as long as harassment, discrimination, stigmatisation and profiling of persons in hijab continue, we shall not be tired of using all legal means and instruments at our disposal to fight for justice,” Al-Mu’minaat stated.

It added its voice to the condemnation of Boko Haram and other misguided groups that are killing innocent individuals.

It described the murder of a chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State as an act that is against Islam.

“Boko Haram does not represent Islam in any way. Such groups are evil and must not be associated with Islam and Muslims. Indeed, they are creations of perverted systems that have much to gain from insecurity and disharmony in Nigeria.

“Our condolences go to the families of Christians and Muslims who are victims of Boko Haram’s savagery and we pray Allah to destroy the group and expose their sponsors.

“We call on the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to end banditry, kidnapping and the menace of Boko Haram. Insecurity of lives and property endangers sustainable development,” the group said.

Coalition makes case for Nigerian Muslim women, girls

The coalition of Muslim organisations in the country also addressed a press conference on Wednesday, in Ikeja, Lagos, to herald the World Hijab Day 2020.

The other organisations are the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit; Nasrul-lahi-il-Fathi Society (NASFAT), Al Mu’minaat, Lagos State chapter; Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Lagos State chapter; Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative (HRAI), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN); Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC); Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth of Nigeria (ADYAN); Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP); Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa (LSCCM); Pristine Cactus Foundation, The Criterion and the International Muslim Women Union (IMWU).

The executive director of Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, Hajiya Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, who addressed the press conference on behalf of the coalition, lamented what the “continuous” discrimination against hijab wearers in the country.

According to her, what the Muslim women want is simply to secure their rights as provided for by the constitution.

“We want to be allowed to carry out our duties and contribute to our society without fear of discrimination or experiencing discrimination. We want our daughters to be able to attend schools, register and write examinations in their hijab without intimidation, abuse and discrimination.

“We want to have equal access to services of regulatory bodies without being asked or expected to first compromise our faith. We want to be given a level playing field like everyone else, not to be denied job interviews, job placements and opportunities because we dress as obligated by our faith,” she said.

She described hijab as a human right and a religious right that is protected by the constitution.

Orolu-Balogun said that being able to wear the hijab by female Nigerian Muslims without fear or incidents of discrimination or abuse was the practical application of the constitutional provision.

She said discrimination and denial of human rights affected many more people than simply their direct victims as family members, communities and societies themselves were adversely affected.

She described 2019 as the year of hijabis, saying “despite all challenges faced in our schools, workplace and the society at large, we Muslim women in hijab triumphed against all odds.”

“We have excelled in academics, our careers, professions, and nurturing our families.

“We have proven yet again that we are valuable citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, contributing positively to our communities in every way we can, and to the world at large,” Hajiya Orolu-Balogun added.

She said the global theme for the 2020 World Hijab Day was ‘Unity in Diversity’, which, according to her, resonates with Nigerians because their country, being a multicultural and multi-religious nation, united as one.

She emphasised that no one should be left out or discriminated against because of the language they speak, the culture they practise or the religion they profess.