Use of Hijab is religious, constitutional right-Southwest Muslims‏

An Islamic group under the auspices of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has said that use of the veil (also known as Hijab) is constitutional right of Muslim women, adding that it must be protected by every government.

The body gave the position in Ibadan at a press conference on Thursday as it assessed the raging crisis over the reclassification policy of the Osun state government in its public primary and secondary school education.

The Executive Secretary of the group, Prof. Dawud Noibi, who addressed journalists, urged the Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola to ensure that Muslim pupils and students in the state's schools are allowed to use hijab without any hindrance.

“We call on Ogbeni Aregbesola to guarantee for Muslim pupils and students in the state who wish to obey Allah by using the hijab to do so without let or hindrance. We demand that the religious freedom of the girls to comply with Allah's instruction be respected and protected,” he said.

He wondered why the exercise of constitutional right should be seen as an offence as accentuated by Christian Association of Nigeria's position in the state and the Iwo Baptist High School saga where, on February 2 and 3, some students variously appeared in choir robes, Ifa beads, masquerades, hijabs, turbans and many attires that depicted various religious inclinations.

Mr. Noibi, who rebuked CAN for regarding the use of hijab as attempt to islamize Osun, said "they are all attempts to divert attention from the impressive records of a government that has positively impacted the lives of people both within and outside of the state".

According to him, the development was a way of sponsoring a campaign of calumny against the governor as the governorship election in the state approaches.

“Yet, the muslims of the South West are resolved to remain calm and patient as usual with the patience and perseverance which have so far made peaceful co-existence possible and sustainable in Yoruba land. However, we expect our Christian counterparts to realise that the old order has changed. It is no longer business as usual. We expect them to reciprocate our gesture of patience and our spirit of accommodation for the good of all,” he said.