The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has said the continued “discrimination and denial of Muslim girls the use of Hijab has gradually eroded the confidence of Nigerian Muslim parents in the school system to protect the rights of their daughters as they seek to participate in the educational system.”

The development, it warned, could worsen out-of-school cases if not immediately checked.
FOMWAN therefore appealed to the Federal and States Ministries of Education “to allow for an alternative school uniform for those who need it as a matter of religious obligation without any harm to the school system and learning.”

It also asked the National Assembly to legislate against discrimination against those who wear the hijab as a means of providing safe places for all women and girls to thrive in the name of equity.

FOMWAN National Amirah, Halima Jibril and National PRO, Dr. Summayah Hamza, made the call on Sunday in a statement marking this year’s World Hijab Day.

According to them, Nigerian Muslim families, particularly the women and girls count their blessings and woes as they join the 140 countries of the world to observe the world Hijab day.

“This year’s theme #Endhijabophobia” strongly seeks to clarify all those points of misunderstanding about the intent and purpose of the hijab. It therefore behooves Muslim women and girls to interact at the personal, community and professional levels to allay all fears about the hijab especially among non-MUSLIMS.

“FOMWAN advocates with the National Assembly to legislate against discrimination against those who wear the hijab as a means of providing safe places for all women and girls to thrive in the name of equity,” they said.

They said that from 2013 to 2021 when, (courtesy of Nazma Khan), the world recognized the World Hijab day, FOMWAN commends the level of awareness that has been created and sustained by Islamic organizations.

Advocacy for hijab

The group said the event presents another opportunity for Nigerian Muslim women and girls to advocate against discrimination, harassment, intimidation and exclusiveness on account of the wearing of the hijab at the work place, in schools and while registering for examinations and identity cards.

“As we speak, there are several cases of hijab denial in the courts affecting innocent school girls who live with denial of their fundamental human rights in Nigeria, a country with the largest Muslim population in West Africa.

“Denial of hijab to school girls has gradually eroded the confidence of Nigerian Muslim parents in the school system to protect the rights of their daughters as they seek to participate in the educational system.

“This has serious implications for a country where girls constitute 60% of the 13.2 million out-of-school children (UBEC/UNICEF, 2018).

“This in itself will definitely increase the number of out-of-school children as parents explore the non-formal school system for their girls,” they said.

Opportunities for muslim girls

The FOMWAN said that the ‘discrimination’ has also translated into loss of opportunities for Muslim girls to actualize their dreams of service to their country as prospective professors, doctors and other professionals even when they have the potentials.

The group added that “evidence abounds in the last two years that hijab is not a hindrance to attainment of academic excellence as Hijabites across Universities in Nigeria have come out tops in their various fields of study, including the sciences.

“In the spirit of the theme for this year’s World Hijab Day, “#EndHijabophobia” FOMWAN calls on all interfaith platforms to collaborate to end the prejudice and stereotyping associated with the hijab among their members by creating “a live and let live” environment for all, irrespective of religious belief.

“The 2018 Firdaus Amasa case has gone down in history as a positive indication that government and its agencies can be responsive to the rights of its citizens in a pluralistic system by looking at issues with a rights perspective, and within the provisions of the constitution.

“It is FOMWAN’s hope that Government and its Agencies will emulate countries with Muslim Minorities who have amended their policies to accommodate the hijab as a strategy to promote the participation of women in social and economic development, and also in the professions.

“FOMWAN calls on all Muslims, including those whose rights have been violated to patiently seek redress through the legal means since that remains the hope for the common man and woman,” they said.