The Ghanaian Minaret

Abuja: A coalition of Muslim women in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Hijab Right Advocacy Initiative (HRAI), has called on policymakers to introduce policies that would curtail public discrimination against women in hijab.

They called for the training of public officials, including law enforcement agencies, educators, and service providers, on respecting religious expressions, including the right of Muslim women to observe their hijabs in public places.

At a briefing to commemorate this year’s World Hijab Day (WHD) in Alausa, Wednesday, the women lamented that despite the Supreme Court judgement and awareness of the significance of wearing hijab, Nigerian Muslim women face discrimination.

The HRAI comprises the Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation, the Nasru-llahi-L-Fathi Society (NASFAT), the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos chapter, and the Criterion, Lagos District.

Others are the International Muslim Women Union (IMWU), Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), and the Akhwaat Muslimat Organisation.

The rest are the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Guild of Muslim Professionals for Peace and Development (GMP), Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Pure Heart Islamic Foundation, An Nujabau Female Forum, Muslim Lawyers Association on Nigeria (MULAN), and Izharul Haq Movement of Nigeria.

World Hijab Day is a yearly event marked every February 1 in over 140 countries to raise awareness against discrimination against hijab-wearing women.

Executive Director of HRAI, Hajia Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, said, “Since its inception, World Hijab Day has been a movement that champions freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and the rights of Muslim women to practice their faith without discrimination.”

She noted that this year’s theme, ‘Hijabis Unsilenced,’ amplifies the voices of Muslim women who have long been marginalised, mistreated, and faced discrimination because of their religious dress.

She said, “In Nigeria, where religious pluralism should be celebrated, Muslim women continue to face structural, legal, and social challenges that undermine their rights and dignity.

“We find it pertinent to reiterate that the issue of dressing, while it may be a means of cultural identity for some, for Muslims is legislation from God. It is not Arabian culture, nor is it a fashion accessory one may discard at will.

“It has also been protected by our laws. Wearing the hijab by the Muslim female is the practical application of this constitutional provision. The supreme court in the case of Miss Asiyat Abdulkareem vs. Lagos State has upheld the use of the hijab as being protected by the provisions of Section 38(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), hence, a fundamental right.” She said.