The Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women has celebrated the 10th edition of World Hijab Day with the theme ”Progression, not Oppression,’’#DressedNotOppressed” in Abuja
The group called on the National Assembly to introduce and pass laws that serve the interest of all citizens and protect their rights and freedoms regardless of what they wear.
A member of the coalition Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu urged the government to speedily pass the ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021’ which passed its second reading in March 2021.
“The House of Representatives introduced a bill seeking to institutionalise the use of hijab in schools. The bill titled ‘Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2021’ is seeking to provide a mechanism for enforcing certain provisions of the Constitution and other international laws that recognise the right of a female to adorn hijab in public and private establishments in Nigeria. Although there has been a dead silence on the bill since 2021, we will not relent in ensuring the enforcement of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the decided cases.”
The coalition also called on governments at all levels to create and provide services that cater to all, including those whose appearance is defined by their belief and obedience to a command from the divine creator.
“We call on all people, our fellow compatriots, institutions, leaders, and those in positions of authority to see our hijab as an enabler, not an inhibitor. We are saying ‘’we are ok’’, ‘’we symbolize nothing but good’’, and as in the common parlance that says ‘’dress the way you want to be addressed’’, we plead to the world to ‘’address us the way we are dressed’’ They should treat it with respect and understanding, as a tool and a vehicle for inclusiveness, a paved road to reach out to both the most remote and excluded populations of women & children and the nearest and more visible ones.”
According to her, the coalition still has a lot to do because of some anti-hijab policies and stances that were witnessed in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
“We will continue to push forward as we need all the support we can get from citizens, the three arms of government, media, religious and traditional leaders, we have also documented the following cases of anti-hijab sentiment: April 2022 – a young Muslim Sister was denied the right to do capturing at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Abuja for wearing a hijab. The sister’s capturing was eventually done after the issue was escalated on social media platforms. October 2022 – the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Osun State Area Unit cried out against the denial of Muslim Students of Baptist Girls Grammar School, Osogbo, their right to wear hijab.
“February 2022 – Shortly after the commemoration of the 2022 World Hijab Day, precisely between the 4th and 7th of February 2022, there was a huge protest in the Indian state of Karnataka by college students following their denial from entering their schools and attending classes just because they don the hijab.
“The Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women has not changed its focus on constructive engagement with all relevant stakeholders and the general Nigerian public.”
World Cancer Day
The coalition also joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Cancer Day, which is marked every 4th of February.
“This is important and necessary because cancer is one of the deadliest diseases across the globe, especially in Nigeria and women are mostly affected. Inadequate awareness, late detection, and seeking wrong and ineffective forms of treatments are some of the factors that contribute to the high rate of cancer deaths in Nigeria. These factors can be corrected through proper health-seeking behaviour and the creation of awareness to sensitize the Muslim communities on early cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. And since the most common cancers in Nigeria and even globally are cervical and breast cancers, the coalition deemed it fit to educate the public on the need for frequent screening which would help in the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer.”
February 1st of every year is marked as World Hijab Day worldwide.
It is a day set aside to create awareness of the Muslim woman’s dress: its position, and what it represents; galvanising support for its wearers, and campaigning against its prohibition, castigation, or maltreatment of its wearer.
The coalition of the Nigeria Muslim Women is made up of groups such as FOMWAN, NASFAT, Women in Da’awah, MESH, Ansaruddeen, Al-Habibiya, JADAFIA, Abuja Muslim Forum, Al-Mu’minat, An-nisa Foundation, Sisters of Jannah, The Criterion, Initiative for Muslim Sisters, Hidaya Islamic Charity and others.
PIAK
