MURIC Applauds Navy For Accepting Muslim Parents’ Wish On Hijab

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has applauded the Nigerian Navy for accepting the request of the Muslim Parents Forum to allow female Muslim students in navy schools to wear hijab.

This was expressed in a press release circulated on Saturday, by the Founder and Executive Director of the Islamic human rights organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The press release said: “The Muslim Parents Forum has scored another goal in its efforts to ensure that female Muslim students throughout Nigeria enjoy the dividends of religious freedom in the Nigerian democratic setting. In the latest development, the Nigerian Navy has manifested no opposition to a request from the forum to allow female Muslim students to wear hijab.

“A memo reportedly emanating from the office of the Minister of State for Defence has equally directed that female Muslim students in navy secondary schools throughout the country be allowed to enjoy this Allah-given fundamental human right.

“The memo was dated 7th November, 2024. It was signed by Raji, I. O., Director of Navy Affairs on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Bello Mutawalle.

“We applaud this giant step in Nigeria’s strive for true democratic practices. For, indeed, our democracy remains inconclusive so long as it allows one culture to oppress the other. Neither is civil rule completely civil until military authorities bow to government directives.

“Religious crisis will also become a thing of the past if no religious group suffers persecution. Coming from the Muslim Parents Forum, the request to allow Muslim children to identify themselves as Muslims is in tandem with the provisions of Section 38(i)&(ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which stipulates freedom of religion.

“Of particular interest is Section 38(ii) which lays emphasis on the interest and input of parents in places of education and the kind of instructions passed on to students. The Section says no person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious instruction or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or practice contrary to that of his or her parents.

“MURIC is indeed proud of the professionalism exhibited by the Nigerian Army in general and the Nigerian Navy in particular in their confrontations with criminal elements, their gallantry on the battlefield as well as their cooperation with civilian authorities in matters such as compliance with use of hijab by female Muslim students in military institutions.”