The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Osun State Area Unit, has called on the state government to urgently call principals and headteachers that are denying female Muslim students their right to use the hijab in the state’s public schools to order.
A statement jointly signed by the State Amir and the Public Relations Officer of the society, Mallam Abdul Jeleel Arikewuyo and Saheed Raji, in Osogbo, on Sunday, urged the state government to urgently intervene to forestall breakdown of law in the state.
The society expressed its concern over the persecution of some Muslim students on the use of hijab despite the decision of the court and circular released by the state government on the matter.
The statement reads in part: “We have been monitoring the activities across the state since the schools resumed for a new session in November 2020 and have seen how some schools have denied some of our female members the use of the hijab.
“While some even went to the extent of denying them, others compel them to tuck it in against the clear provision of the circular released by the state government.
“It becomes imperative to emphasize that the right to use the hijab as contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is an inalienable right, and has since been given judicial approval by court.
“We therefore urge the state government to see to the erring teachers, headteachers and principals with a view to forestalling a possible breakdown of law and order.
“We shall as from Monday, the 18th day of January, 2021 monitor the event as it unfolds, and shall take every legal means to seek redress for our members who may be denied in whatever way the use of the hijab.
“Our eyes are on every school across the state. We also call on parents and guardians of our members to ensure that their wards comply with the court judgement and the circular issued by the ministry of Education as to the rights of their wards to use the hijab.
We finally call on the state government to address this issue as a matter of urgency by calling the affected teachers, headteachers, principals and schools to order, for we shall not allow the rights of any of our members to be trampled upon.”
