An Ikeja High Court in Lagos State will be delivering a judgment on Friday on whether or not hijab (Muslim headscarf) should be allowed in public primary and secondary schools in the state.
The judgement is expected to be delivered by Justice Grace Modupe Onyeabo, who had after hearing both the complainant (Muslim Students Students of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit) and defendants (Lagos State Government) argued their cases on Friday, July 4.
The pronouncement to give the final judgment came after the case was adjourned for about five times, most of which came on applications by counsel for the state government.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government had banned the use of hijab on the argument that it was not part of the approved school uniform for pupils.
After the ban, the students group proceeded to court to seek redress and protect pupils from being flogged, embarrassed, and victimised for using hijab within and outside school premises.
In one of the instances stated by MSSN-LSAU, an 11-year-old student of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute Metta, Aisha Alabi, was on February 5, 2013, give 43 strokes of the cane on the assembly ground by her principal, Mrs. E.C Ukpaka, for not removing her hijab after coming out of an Islamic Religious Knowledge class, where it is ordinarily permitted to adorn hijab.
It also said that on February 20, 2013, Bareerah Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi similarly had her hijab removed and trampled upon by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, outside the school premises.
During the last proceeding at the Lagos High Court, counsel for the Muslim Students, Adetola Kassim (SAN) had in a 24-paragraph counter affidavit, said “The headscarf is fundamental rights as fully established in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are not demanding for a full lent hijab, we have exhibited a photograph of a sample of hijab, which still represents their school identity.
“The colour of the hijab can conform to the school uniform. All we want is for the students to be allowed to use hijab. If beret and caps are allowed for female students, hijab shouldn’t be an exemption.”
But counsel for the state government insisted that use of hijab can only be used during special occasions such as religious classes and prayers among others.
However, President of MSSN-LSAU, Kaamil Kalejaiye, expressed worry that the group had to seek redress in court for a right that has been clearly stated in the Constitution.
He said, “We cannot afford to see our Muslimahs dress naked. Hijab is an apparel of honour, a garment of modesty and a shield against immorality. It is our pride. It is our dignity. Nigeria’s constitution grants Freedom of Religion, Conscience and Expression. It states clearly the rights to wear anything one feels comfortable with, so far as it is neither provocative nor irresponsible.
“We are neither seeking for a favour nor asking for a privilege; we are simply demanding our rights. It is important to note here that hijab has been granted by muslim minority states, how much more Lagos State with muslim majority.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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