Hijab and its unending controversies

THE several statements put out by various Christian associations in Osun and Lagos state on the judgments held by the courts in the cases for or against the ban of hijab in public schools, have been predictably insensitive, somewhat chauvinist, but unsurprising in a country where religion romances politics. Muslim communities in Lagos state challenged the government over a ban on religious apparels in public schools, which to them was a major infringement on their rights as citizens, they got their day in court and a judgement that favoured them.

In upturning the decision of the high court banning the use of hijab in public schools, Justice Gumel held that the use of hijab is an Islamic injunction and also an act of worship, hence it will constitute a violation of the appellant’s rights to stop them from wearing hijab in secondary schools. A similar judgement was delivered in Osun state, on the third of June this year, in which Justice Jide Falola ruled that any act of molestation, harassment, torture and humiliation against female Muslim students using hijab in school premises is a breach of their fundamental rights.

The constitution is quite clear on the fundamental rights of every Nigeria pertaining his/her religion and in section 38 sub section 1, it states that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his or her religion or belief and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance”. Certainly, one of several ways the Muslims propagate, practice and observe the teachings of their religion is the wearing of hijab in public places, and quite frankly I am astonished by a society that tolerates indecent dressing in public places and sometimes churches but will raise dust at the sight of a hijab. This for me isn’t just hypocrisy but a parochial thinking peppered with chauvinistic tendencies.

Every time we kick against the wearing of hijab in public schools, we play God and in a sense are giving these young kids two options, which is to choose between their faith and a public education. Perhaps, one must make the seemingly excruciating point that upholding the rights of people with different faiths and cultural orientation does not necessarily have to be convenient, it simply is obligatory. The cardinal rule of humanity, though unwritten, is to do unto others as you would like done to you, adherence to this simple dictum will rid the world of a lot of hate.

My friend, Mariam Osanyipeju, was a couple of months ago made to choose between her job (teaching in a private secondary school) and her strongly held faith, when the proprietress of the school decided that no person could teach her students wearing a hijab, however qualified they were. This new legislation cost Mariam her job (in such hard times) in a school where she had taught for three years because she was unwilling to compromise. On what basis was such an odious decision taken? Can the principal prove that wearing of hijabs interferes with the learning process in the classroom or that it leaves impressions on the pupils that are negative, retrogressive or anti-civil.

Except for my degree and fellowship programmes, I was educated in the north and returned for post graduate studies there, and so I have been taught in classrooms by teachers who wore hijabs and sat next to female students who wore theirs to school and I can tell you for free that never for once did the appearance of the teacher matter to us who were Christians from the south-western part of the country. We wanted a sound education and we got one, trust me, we also had unending crushes on Aisha, Mariam, Nafisa who all wore hijabs to school.

Even though I am tempted by Professor Wole Soyinka’s secularist position on the issue and the fact that public schools should be insulated from the cacophony of religion, I remain fully persuaded that once an individual draws his/her essence from a religious imperative that constitute zero harm to others, they earn my respect and tolerance. It is however incumbent on us to rise above the fray and defend our individual and collective rights for the greater good of democracy and humanity. We are better off fighting over the standard of our public schools (which for me is a national emergency) and not the pettiness of wearing hijabs.

“They want to Islamise Nigeria” has become the new song of the town criers and my usual response to them is, are you not also on a mission to ‘Christianise’ the world by bringing every man to the knowledge of Christ?

Source: TODAY


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