One of the leading Islamic organisations in Nigeria, The Muslim Congress (TMC) has said that school administrators and teachers who flout the Supreme Court’s ruling on hijab must be made to face the full wrath of the law in order to serve as deterrent to others.
The faith-based organisation made this statement in a press release issued on Friday by its Amir (President), Alhaji AbdulWasiu Taiwo Bangbala, a copy of which was made available to Muslim News.
TMC said the judgement underscores efforts to build a truly inclusive Nigeria where religion and culture are respected and protected.
Bangbala who hailed the apex court’s judgement noted that it marks a hard-fought victory after 9 years of legal proceedings and should serve as a landmark case on discrimination in public spaces and a boost for religious protection and freedom.
“The Muslim Congress has lauded the verdict of the Supreme Court of Nigeria approving the use of Hijab in government-owned schools in Lagos State. The ruling ends a long-drawn legal battle over the constitutionality of the head-covering clothing for female Muslim students.
The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court’s judgement which had earlier set aside the jaundiced decision of the Lagos State High Court, banning female Muslim students from wearing the hijab to school. The apex court rightly deemed the ruling a violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, dignity of human persons and freedom from discrimination.
“The court’s judgement underscores the need for guarantee of religious freedom to extend to workplaces where discriminatory policies are often used in subjugating citizens who choose to uphold their religious beliefs. The Federal Government must see this development as part of the efforts to create a truly inclusive society where religion and culture are not just respected but also protected.
“Authorities in public institutions, leadership of organizations and business owners must brush up on the nuances of bias and do more to accommodate the diverse background of their workforce. The rights of Muslim students and workers to worship must be respected, especially the observance of the Friday (Jum’ah) prayers at its appointed time. For all intents and purposes, this court verdict should impact how our diversity is accounted for,” the release read.
“We urge the Lagos State Government to effectuate the judgement without delay and ensure full compliance by school authorities in the State. The teachers who take sadistic pleasure in tormenting female Muslim students for daring to appear modest, must be treated with the full force of the law to serve as deterrent to many who are wont to flout the rule in contemptuous disregard for the court verdict. We also urge Muslims never to cower in the face of any intimidating attempt to abuse their Allah-given rights.”
The group also lauded the efforts of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State, late Chief Gani Adetola-Kazeem, the legal team and others who supported the hijab cause to a victorious end.
“The Muslim Congress congratulates the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit in particular, and by extension the Nigerian Muslim community for their courage and determination; the parents of the students for their stoical attitude to outface the uphill struggle, for without the unwavering collective resolve to take the long walk, this victory might have just been a mirage.
“We, therefore, commend the tenacity of the pro-Hijab legal team led by Alh. Gani Adetola-Kazeem of blessed memory, who signed and filed the brief of argument few weeks before his death. History will forever be kind to the late legal icon for this great feat. We pray Allah overlooks his failings, have mercy on him and grant him the best of place in paradise.
“We salute the bravery and astuteness of the legal team and also acknowledge the contributions of all who played a part in achieving this glorious triumph. May Allah honour them all in this world and the afterlife. It has indeed been a long road to justice,” he added.