Some unidentified soldiers on Friday forcefully removed
the veil, popularly referred to as Niqab, from a Muslim
woman at Meran Area of Lagos.
It was gathered the woman was going peacefully when
two soldiers stopped and began to allegedly harass her.
According to an eyewitness, identified as Adetutu, it
took the intervention of passersby and sympathisers for
the Muslim woman to get her veil back.
Apart from the removal veil on Friday, two images had
earlier been sighted separately at Ibadan.
One of the images seen and allegedly signed by
‘Federal Government’ at University College Hospital,
Ibadan read,”Wearing of long hijab is prohibited in
government establishment for security reasons”.
It will be recalled that this is happening few weeks to
the comment that Federal Government may ban Hijab
by President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari while commenting on the continued
blasts in the North-East during his maiden media chat
last Wednesday said, “We will have to consider banning
of the Hijab if this (the suicide attacks) continues.”
But on Friday (January 1), the President through his
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba
Shehu, in a press release denied insinuations that his
administration had plans to ban Hijab.
While describing Hijab as the Muslim women’s dressing
symbol of modesty, Buhari’s spokesperson added,
“Everything will be done to balance national security
requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens
under their religions as protected by the constitution.”
The eyewitness, who described the the removal of the
Hijab as an embarrassing sight and injustice, urged the
Federal Government to make an official pronouncement
stating that the hijab has not been banned to avert
further chaos.
While narrating how the Hijab was removed, Adetutu
said, “I arrived at the Meiran Bus Station to board a
bus when I saw three armed military men stop a
Muslim woman who was putting on ta black attire and
a face veil. One of them confronted her asking why she
used the face veil.
“The woman was surprised and helpless. Almost
immediately he (one of the soldiers) turned up her face
veil to reveal her face.
“The woman who felt ashamed only looked and could
do nothing because the soldiers were heavily armed.
“After one of the soldiers revealed her face, another
soldier forcefully removed the veil from her saying
‘This thing is not allowed in our country. You can use it
in your house but not here’.
“He (the soldier) took the veil and was about leaving
with it. All the woman could do was to plead with him
to at least release the veil to her.
“After harassing her in such a way that called attention
of passersby, he (the soldier) returned the veil to her
and she quietly left almost shedding tears.”
Reacting to the pasting of a message to prohibit Hijab
at UCH Ibadan, Amir of Muslim Students’ Society of
Nigeria, UCH branch, Adam Hamzah said, “This is yet
another reflection of open hatred of Islam. However, i
want to urge our sisters to entertain no fear in
showcasing the beauty of Islam through their Hijab.
After all, they realised the essence of their existence
unlike those who walk about in Unclothedness.
“It is therefore imperative not to allow this issue derail
us from the golden path. I am glad to inform you that
MSSN at the branch,state,zonal and national levels is
currently working assiduously to put a stop to this
oppression.
“Several notable Muslim personalities have been duly
informed about the issue.This is with a view to
ensuring that our SON sisters enjoy not only using
Hijab in the hostel but also on the wards. I therefore
charge us to join hands in making this a reality.”
On her part, the Amirah of MSSN Lagos, Hajia Hafsoh
Badru lamented many people have started harrasing
female Muslims on Hijab.
She added, “It is regrettable that such statement was
made at a period when Muslim sisters are facing tough
times in practising their religion. We are sure that the
Presidency is not unaware of the continuous denial of
Muslim students to use Hijab as guaranteed by the
Nigeria constitution and United Nations Charter on
Human Rights.
“We hope that the earlier statement by the President
won’t serve as a means for some bad eggs in
governance to punish and harass females in Hijab or
label them wrongly. We sincerely appeal to the
president to mandate the Ministry of Information and
other necessary agencies to release a circular that will
guarantee female Muslims right to wear Hijab on the
street, in schools and during their National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC).”
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