Hundreds Of Hijab Wearing School Pupils' Protest Paralyses Activities In Lagos

Hundreds of hijab (Muslim veil for women) wearing school pupils under the aegis of the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria, MSSN, yesterday, paralysed activities at the Alausa Secretariat, office of Governor of Lagos Babatunde Fashola over alleged flogging and victimization of two pupils by their principals for wearing Hijab, within and outside the school premises.

While Miss. Aisha Alabi, a 16-year-old pupil of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebutte-Metta, Lagos, was allegedly given many strokes of the cane by her principal, Mrs. E.C. Ukpaka, on February 5, 2013, Miss. Barirat Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar school, was allegedly victimised by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, on February 20, 2013 for using the scarf outside the school premises.

The protesters who stormed the office of the Governor at about 10:00 a.m. barricaded the entire entrance to the Governor’s Office, obstructing free flow of traffic in the state seat of power saying, “we will not leave the entrance of the Governor’s office until we see the Governor, whom we voted for at the last general election.”

They displayed several placards with inscriptions like “Hijab is my identity; don’t take it away from me. Our Hijab is our freedom, Hijab should be part of our uniforms, Dressing without Hijab is incomplete, Hijab is a symbol of pride and honour, among others.” “All we want is that Hijab should be legalised as part of the school uniforms for Muslim students in the entire public school in the state. And the government should also recall Barirat, who was suspended, back to school with immediate effect.”

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Assistance General-Secretary, Mr. Zikrulahi Sulaimon, said” “Enough of this maltreatment from our teachers and lecturers, this is not the first corporal punishment meted to school pupils. And we haven’t received any reasonable assurance from the state government that such act wouldn’t happen in the state again.”

At about 4:00p.m., the protesters yielded to the plea of government representatives led by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, for a closed door meeting with 8-man delegation from them.

At the end of the meeting which lasted for over an hour, Danmole, assured the protesters that the government understood their plight and was already taking appropriate steps to ensure that such act did occur again in the state.

Posted: at 1-03-2013 09:41 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

Pls fellow muslims brothers and sisters in lagos should join hand to make this to be effective so that our religion right shouldn't seized by any useless people. Go ahead, no going back. ISLAM 4 LIVE

Posted: at 1-03-2013 12:20 PM (11 years ago) | Upcoming

It is not proper 4 teachers to victimise students 4 der blive , it has to be stopped , let dem have freedom to wear wat der religion permit dem , am a Xtian I support der protest

Posted: at 1-03-2013 02:05 PM (11 years ago) | Newbie

Bless you

Posted: at 1-03-2013 02:34 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

What you are saying is; it is lawful for a teacher or anyone to assault or beat someone wearing … Hijab.

Posted: at 1-03-2013 02:53 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Charged to where, sharia court of school court?

Posted: at 1-03-2013 03:00 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

Religion matter my hand no dey, but if those girls realy wants to cover up they should aswell cover down too. Not  covering up and openning down any how

Posted: at 1-03-2013 03:32 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

 

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Posted: at 1-03-2013 03:36 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero

the school's dress code should be obeyed by all students.
if there is no strict uniform code, then hijab can be allowed.

Posted: at 1-03-2013 05:19 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

U be Ode

Posted: at 1-03-2013 05:27 PM (11 years ago) | Upcoming