Muslim forum disagrees as UI school rejects hijab

Authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI) International School yesterday disallowed the use of hijab among the pupils.

They said allowing it would jeopardise its peace.

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school met amidst tension to deliberate on the hijab controversy, which threatened the peace of the 55-year-old college on Monday.

As early as 7 a.m, the Muslim Parents Forum, chaired by Abdulrahman Balogun, stormed the school and distributed hijab to willing pupils, who adorned them, hours to the beginning of the emergency meeting of the association.

During the meeting, parents charged at one another, following the misunderstanding on the use of the Islamic veil for female Muslims.

Parents from different religious persuasions canvassed for and against the use of hijab.

A herbalist and varsity researcher, Baba Awo Awosanmi Abe, intervened during the session.

He recalled how the head teacher of the school resisted his children from coming to the school with traditional beads, which he complied with.

Another parent, Alhaja Basirat Banke Adeniyi, in an electronic mail sent to the Chairman of the PTA, Dr. Kazeem Olaniyan, described the action of her fellow Muslims as diversionary and a deliberate act to create division in the school.

According to her, “the issue of hijab use in the school should not be tolerated”.

A former Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at UI, Prof. Ademola Aremu, said he, despite being a Muslim, did not support of the agitation by the Muslim Forum for the pupils to use hijab.

The former union leader said the elite was only using religion to divide the nation and turn people away from issues that are germane to nation-building and the future of the pupils.

Balogun, who was to make a presentation, was booed and shouted down by some “irate” parents on hearing that he authored the letter notifying the school authority on the need for the pupils to wear hijab.

But he and scores of other Muslim parents stormed out of the meeting and vowed to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

Balogun said: “Hijab-wearing for young Muslim girls, apart from the fact that it is part of their religious belief, is part of their God-given fundamental human right as well as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Part of what distinguishes an institution is the ability to demonstrate a high-level of tolerance of the rights of every child, including female Muslim children, one of which is the use of hijab, as desired by their parents, enjoined by their faith (Islam) and permitted by the constitution.

“It is our considered opinion and resolution that the school authority should not disallow or discourage willing Muslim girls who wish to wear uniformed mini-hijab to protect their chastity, in line with their religious belief.”

Despite the boycott, the meeting resolved that the school would maintain the status quo.

It called for tight security on the school premises with emphasis that “that wearing of hijab will fan ember of division and insecurity among students”.