Hijab: Muslim Students Protest Discrimination

pmnews-placeholder

Muslim students in Lagos State public secondary schools today protested at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, over alleged victimisation of female muslim students who wear hijab to school.

The students, numbering over 200 carried placards and sang “Allah is the greatest,” and demanded from the government to stop victimisation of female Muslim students who wear hijab to school.

The protesters said a JSS 1 students of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Meta, Aisha Alabi was subjected to inhuman treatment by the Principal, Mrs E.C. Ukpaka for using hijab in school.

They also alleged that an SS3 student, Barira Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School was suspended from school for using hijab by the Principal, Elizabeth Omidele, an act, they said might affect her West African School Certificate Examination.

In a statement issued to the press, the Muslim students demanded that Ukpaka and Omidele should be sacked with immediate effect for promoting actions capable of instigating religious crisis in Lagos and that the suspended student should be recalled immediately.

Related News

The students also demanded that hijab should be endorsed as part of the school uniform for Muslim students in all schools in  Lagos State just as beret is endorsed.

They also want the commissioner for education to be called to order for failing to prevent maltreatment of Muslim female student.

“It seems there is a consensus among school principals to deliberately disrupt the relative peace in the state by launching assault on innocent Muslim students upholding the moral conduct of their faith through the use of hijab.

“Ironically, these principals have no problems with other female students wearing mini-skirt and mini-gowns as school uniform. They see no crime in that as long as it is not hijab,” the statement said.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga

Load more