The Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) has rebuffed the High Court judgement over the ban placed on use of hijab in public schools, vowing Muslims in the state will not support any political party fielding candidates who will not guarantee freedom of religion.


The faith-based group made this disclosure in a speech delivered by the president of one of the bodies, The Companion, Alhaji Thabit Sonaike, during a press conference held at the Rahmat Islamiyah Hall, Ikeja.


Not fewer than 28 Islamic organizations in Lagos under the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) teamed up to state their detest for the court ruling, with a resolve to contest it further till justice is secured.


Controversy surrounding the wearing of hijab in Lagos state public school had been on since February 2013, when a Christian teacher was alleged to have beaten an 11 -year-old student, Aisha Alabi of Kadara Junior High School, Ebute-Metta, 43 strokes of the cane for not removing her hijab during an Islamic Studies teaching.


Thereafter, it was reported that the state Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladunjoye, had on May 14th, 2013, during a press conference placed a ban on the use of hijab, saying parents who want their female children to wear hijab should take them to muslim private schools.


The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, had however taken the Lagos State government to court challenging the ban, arguing that such a ban was an infringement on the right to freedom of their creed and religion.


In her judgement on Friday 17th October, 2014, Justice Modupe Onyeabor ruled that the ban was not discriminatory; citing secular nature played up in section 10 of the Nigeria constitution as a premise which needs to be preserved.


Reacting to the ruling, the Joint Muslim Forum described the judgement as "illogical, inexplicable and a total miscarriage of justice. The learned judge erred by averring that hijab creates a sense of inferiority in those who do not use it."


While describing the Lagos state government policies as against Islam and muslims, JMF wondered why a state promoting girl-child education would on the other hand discriminate against female Muslim students?"


"Lagos State Government must explain to Nigeria why hijab is acceptable in the whole of north, Ekiti, Oyo and Osun states but it is an anathema in Lagos. How many constitutions do we operate in Nigeria? Lagos has simply become the epicenter of religious stigmatization against Muslims. One must ask for how long will the fragile peaces last," JMF retorted.


Also speaking at the Forum, the President of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof Ishaq Akintola stated that the claim by Justice Modupe Onyeabor that Nigeria is a secular state is an aberration, arguing that "the judge should point out in any part of the Nigeria constitution where there is a mention of the word 'secular.'


While answering a question on the out of court settlement that was put in place by the state government to settle the issue amicably, Alhaji Sonaike recalled that the agreement was that "there should be mutually acceptable positions but officials of government did not follow this."


The Islamic scholar added that the muslim organizations will go to Appeal Court to file a stay of execution as a way of protecting the right of female Muslims in the state.

http://nationaldailyng.com/news/nationwide/1240-no-hijab-no-vote-says-jmf

medicine after death, for crying out loud you are going to school not mosque, imagine a situation where someone from a white garment church is also allowed to come to school in a flowing gown! keep your beliefs and religion at home, you can pick them up after school!!!

faithugo64:
medicine after death, for crying out loud you are going to school not mosque, imagine a situation where someone from a white garment church is also allowed to come to school in a flowing gown! keep your beliefs and religion at home, you can pick them up after school!!!

Plenty hugs for you, a traditionalist could also decide to go to school with all their accesories if that's the case, muslim schools are available for the fanatics for crying out loud, dis people has the agenda of dividing the south west along religion lines which can never materialize!

Small small the muslims in the SW are finally waking up to their boko haram responsibilities.....na joke I dey joke o.

Freedom of religion does not mean you can protice it any where

All this peeps with their endless chest beating...SMH