MUSLIM COMMUNITY CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE ON HIJAB CRISIS
The Secretary General, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Sheik Ismail Busari while addressing journalists said that there is an urgent need for the Federal Government, National Assembly, State Government and the authority of the University of Ibadan to intervene in the matter before the issue escalates.
He explained that wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students is a God-given right which is enshrined in the constitution, noting that Muslims will not allow anyone to tamper with their right unchallenged.
Hear him “We are calling on Government, and those in positions of authority to intervene to ensure that this does not escalate. Hijab is a global phenomena, it is a God-given right. It is our right. We have seen case of judges, nurses and even uniform women in other countries putting on Hijab.
“We want the authority of University of Ibadan to intervene. We want the government; the National Assembly to come to the aid of the school before it escalates. They are calling anarchy; we want those in government to come before our God-given right is tampered upon’,he stated.
“We are notifying the government that the Muslim community of Oyo State will not want to allow the right of the female Muslim students to be tampered with. Hijab is a right under the constitution. We are calling on government to ensure that the right of our children is not tampered with.
He reiterated further that they should desist from calling Muslim names, and Muslim should not be label as terrorists again. “Tell those victimising us to desist from victimising us. If Muslims can wear Hijab in USA, Britain and other countries, we are Nigerians, our children should be allowed to wear Hijab”.
Penpushiung further reports that, Chairman, Muslim Parents’ Forum of the school, Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun while speaking to journalists added that the Muslim parents and their children have over the years calling for the use of Hijab but all efforts to make it work have been turned down by the school management.
He also explained that several letters written to the management of the school on the issue are yet to be responded to, adding, “here we are, we want you to hear from our own side, we want you to hear our own side of the story.
‘I am a parent; my children are in the school. They are profiling Muslim students separately. I have been to many countries; no one does that putting Muslims in a separate class and
putting Christians in a separate class. We have written several letters to the Principal but up till now they are yet to reply us. We have been suffering in silence”.
However, as at the time of filing this report when journalists visited the school for reaction of the Principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, all efforts was proved abortive, as the Principal later sent one of the gatemen of the school to inform journalists that she was attending a meeting
Penpushing reports that, the security man whose name tag reads, John Mike also told journalists to leave the school premises following directive from the management that they(journalists) should not go beyond the school gate.
