Muslim groups kick against ban on Hijab in Lagos

Muslim Students’ Society Nigeria (MSSN) B-Zone and the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) Lagos State Chapter have strongly condemned the ban on the use of hijab in Lagos public schools, despite a pending Supreme Court hearing on the matter.

The Lagos State government had approached the apex court to challenge the Court of Appeal judgment allowing the use of of hijab by Muslim pupils in public schools.

Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abd’Lateef Abd’Hakeem was reported to have announced that hijab ban remains in Lagos until the Supreme Court decides.

NACOMYO, in a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Abd’Wasi’ Babatunde, described the comment as “uncharitable to the Muslim Ummah and a calculated attempt to test our collective resolve to sue for peace in the face of assaults on our constitutional freedom of worship”.

“We call on well-meaning Nigerians, the civil society organisations and all lovers of peace to call Lagos State governor and his co-conspirators to order before it is too late,” the MSSN said in a statement jointly signed by its Amir and Secretary Barr Qaasim Odedeji and Alh AbdulJalil Abdur Rasaq respectively.

The two groups appealed to all Muslims to remain calm “in the light of this recent provocation and assault on our constitutional freedom of worship.”