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Hijab: Why Muslim parents insist on
wearing it
wearing it
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
Parents of Muslim students at the International School
Ibadan (ISI) under the banner of ISI Muslim Parents Forum recently disclosed
that they had filed no fewer than 11 fresh court cases against the school, its
principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, University of Ibadan and UI vice chancellor (academic)
over the denial of female Muslim students in the school to use Hijab on top of
their uniforms.
Ibadan (ISI) under the banner of ISI Muslim Parents Forum recently disclosed
that they had filed no fewer than 11 fresh court cases against the school, its
principal, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, University of Ibadan and UI vice chancellor (academic)
over the denial of female Muslim students in the school to use Hijab on top of
their uniforms.
They made this declaration while addressing
journalists during a peaceful Jummat rally staged by parents and students at
the Bodija Estate and Environs Central Mosque in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital
to register their displeasure over the matter.
journalists during a peaceful Jummat rally staged by parents and students at
the Bodija Estate and Environs Central Mosque in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital
to register their displeasure over the matter.
DAILY POST gathered that the Muslim parents on
Thursday said they had petitioned the Director General of the Department of
State Service (DSS), and the Executive Secretary of National Human Right
Commission (NHRC) over the intimidation, molestation and harassment of female
Muslim students in the school.
Thursday said they had petitioned the Director General of the Department of
State Service (DSS), and the Executive Secretary of National Human Right
Commission (NHRC) over the intimidation, molestation and harassment of female
Muslim students in the school.
Our correspondent recalls that the use of Hijab by
female Muslim students has since November 2018 been generating a lot of
controversies which made parents of some Muslim students to jointly sue the
school, its principal, University of Ibadan and Chairman of the Board of
Governors of the school who also doubled as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the
university.
female Muslim students has since November 2018 been generating a lot of
controversies which made parents of some Muslim students to jointly sue the
school, its principal, University of Ibadan and Chairman of the Board of
Governors of the school who also doubled as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the
university.
It will be recalled that Oyo State High Court under
the leadership of Justice Ladiran Akintola, on 26th June 2019 struck out the
suit filed by the parents on the basis that the petitioners are not supposed to
file the case jointly.
the leadership of Justice Ladiran Akintola, on 26th June 2019 struck out the
suit filed by the parents on the basis that the petitioners are not supposed to
file the case jointly.
It was gathered that the Principal of the school, Mrs.
Phebean Olowe and other staff of the school had since then been molesting,
victimising and persecuting the Muslim students whose parents sued the
institution through their parents.
Phebean Olowe and other staff of the school had since then been molesting,
victimising and persecuting the Muslim students whose parents sued the
institution through their parents.
But the protesting parents and students while
insisting that the use of Hijab is a constitutional right of female Muslim
students, sent messages through banners with inscriptions like “Hijab is
Allah’s given dress code”, “We ISI students deserve the right to put on our
hijab. We cover our heads, not our brains!!!”
insisting that the use of Hijab is a constitutional right of female Muslim
students, sent messages through banners with inscriptions like “Hijab is
Allah’s given dress code”, “We ISI students deserve the right to put on our
hijab. We cover our heads, not our brains!!!”
The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun
disclosed that the Muslim parents took the new step of filling the 11 court
cases in line with recent harassments of students in the school, having
exhausted all avenues to engage the school authorities in amicable settlements
and after the last case filed was struck out of court last month.
disclosed that the Muslim parents took the new step of filling the 11 court
cases in line with recent harassments of students in the school, having
exhausted all avenues to engage the school authorities in amicable settlements
and after the last case filed was struck out of court last month.
Balogun said, “I want to announce to you that we have
refiled our case against the University of Ibadan, the management of ISI, the
principal, Mrs Olowe, the DVC academics, Prof. E B Ekeola. We have filed 11
different cases in line with the dictates of the courts. I’m sure that they are
being served as we speak.
refiled our case against the University of Ibadan, the management of ISI, the
principal, Mrs Olowe, the DVC academics, Prof. E B Ekeola. We have filed 11
different cases in line with the dictates of the courts. I’m sure that they are
being served as we speak.
“Our children were molested, not even within ISI now
but outside. The principal, Mrs Phebean Olowe claimed that even all the land
that leads to ISI belongs to ISI. She said once they wear the uniform, they
must not put on hijab, then they went about removing it forcefully, harassing
the parents, harassing the children, trying to force them to sign undertaking
and all sorts of things.
but outside. The principal, Mrs Phebean Olowe claimed that even all the land
that leads to ISI belongs to ISI. She said once they wear the uniform, they
must not put on hijab, then they went about removing it forcefully, harassing
the parents, harassing the children, trying to force them to sign undertaking
and all sorts of things.
“We had three meetings to settle out of court. We
shifted grounds. We said, okay tell us the mode of dressing you want, the
shape, size, colour. But they insisted that status quo remains. I have here the
school rules. There is nothing there that says students cannot wear hijab. Even
if there is anything like that, the constitution supersedes any other enabling
law. They are not ready to shift. We met thrice in d office of Dr. S.P.A
Ajibade, their lead counsel.”
shifted grounds. We said, okay tell us the mode of dressing you want, the
shape, size, colour. But they insisted that status quo remains. I have here the
school rules. There is nothing there that says students cannot wear hijab. Even
if there is anything like that, the constitution supersedes any other enabling
law. They are not ready to shift. We met thrice in d office of Dr. S.P.A
Ajibade, their lead counsel.”
He said the group would use all available legal and
peaceful means to resist the infringement on the rights of their children.
peaceful means to resist the infringement on the rights of their children.
“It is not really a religious matter,” he posited,
arguing that there have been several court judgements n support of hijab rights
in Lagos, Ilorin, Osun and others. We expect that any Nigerian in a public
owned school, even if it’s a private owned school, you have to obey the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
arguing that there have been several court judgements n support of hijab rights
in Lagos, Ilorin, Osun and others. We expect that any Nigerian in a public
owned school, even if it’s a private owned school, you have to obey the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Another parent in the school, Muyideen Boladele
Akerele, alleged that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school have
been used against the Muslim parents who are even also members of the PTA.
Akerele, alleged that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school have
been used against the Muslim parents who are even also members of the PTA.
“If it is my daughter’s right to adorn Hijab, non of
them can deny that. Just as the chairman has said, we are going about this
peacefully. We have never attacked anyone of them, never done anything violent.
They are the ones who are trying to provoke us. But we are resolved to be
peaceful.”
them can deny that. Just as the chairman has said, we are going about this
peacefully. We have never attacked anyone of them, never done anything violent.
They are the ones who are trying to provoke us. But we are resolved to be
peaceful.”