MUSLIMS on Wednesday reiterated the significance of hijab and the strength the head covering embodies for Muslim women worldwide.
Leaders and representatives of no fewer than 18 Muslim organisations reflected on the resilience and dignity of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab as a symbol of their faith and identity at a press conference held at the Alausa Central Mosque hall in Ikeja, Lagos.
The event was organised to commemorate World Hijab Day 2024. The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Veiled in Strength’.
The organisations are the Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative (HRAI), Nasrullahi Fathi Society (NASFAT), Pure Heart Islamic Foundation, Al-Muminaat Organisation, Lagos, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area unit, An Nujabau Female Forum, Izharul Haq Movement of Nigeria, Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos and The Criterion, Lagos District.
The others are International Muslim Women Union (IMWU), Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Akhwaat Muslimat Organization, Lagos; Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),Guild of Muslim Professionals (GMP), Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) and Pristine Cactus Foundation.
Hajiya Mutiat Orolu of HRAI noted freedom of thought, conscience and religion is guaranteed by the constitution, and laws regulating these matters recognise and permit the use of hijab.
She, however, lamented that despite the fact that wearing of the hijab by the Muslim female is the practical application of this constitutional provision, there are public officers in who use their positions to infringe on the rights of Muslim women.
Alhaja Suweibah Bola Kupolati of NASFAT noted the challenges hijab-wearing Muslim women face in the process of having their biometric data taken.
She called on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to incorporate the guidelines contained in the Nigeria Biometric Standards Regulation of 2017 in the retraining of agents engaged in the National Identification Number enrolments so that Muslim women are not asked to compromise their religious beliefs or have their fundamental human rights infringed upon during the biometric data capture process.
Alhaja Kudrat Ogunmuyiwa of FOMWAN said: “The challenges facing Muslim women, though numerous, are not insurmountable. Therefore, let us also take a moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Muslim women in hijab over the past year, both in Nigeria and around the world.
“From groundbreaking advancements in various fields to acts of extraordinary courage and resilience, Muslim women continue to inspire and uplift their communities through their exemplary contributions.
“We also celebrate our sister, Dr Aminat Ige-Ariyibi, for bagging the award for best PhD thesis at the 54th convocation ceremonies at the University of Lagos. We pray Allah blesses it for her and many other Muslim women making a difference, whether as housewives, mothers, career women, entrepreneurs and even political and community leaders. We see you, and we celebrate you.
“As we look to the future, We reaffirm our commitment to supporting and uplifting Muslim women in hijab, ensuring that they are afforded the dignity, respect and opportunities they rightfully deserve. Let us work together to create a society where diversity is celebrated and religious freedoms are upheld for all.
“Our speech will not be complete without remembering our sisters and children in Gaza who still maintain their hijabs despite the ongoing war, bombing and displacement from their homes. They truly have embodied the theme, ‘veiled in strength’. We call on the international community to call for an end to the ongoing genocide in Palestine and we pray for Allah’s help and victory.”
Others who delivered addresses at the press conference were Hajiya Rafiah Tijani of the MSSN, Lagos; Dr Halimah Ogunbekun of An-Nujabau Female Forum; Hajiya Bilqis Abdullah (Al-Mu’minaat) and Hajiya Roqeebah Solanke (MPAC).
