Hijab Controversy: MURIC Urges Kwara State Govt to Rename Missionary Schools
- The controversy concerning the use of hijab in Kwara state schools is still a trending topic
- The Muslim Rights Concern has shared its thoughts on the issue which caused tension in the state recently
- The group urged the Kwara state government to take a decisive stand on the issue without delay
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The Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised the Kwara state government to rename the missionary schools in the state.
The schools have been the subject of controversy over the use of hijab by female students, which has been resisted by Christians in the state.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, March 20 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, and seen by Legit.ng, the group urged the state government to begin the process immediately.
Source: Twitter
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Part of the statement read:
“It is obvious that the Kwara state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is determined to foment trouble. It has refused to obey court judgements. It has also rejected the government’s directive on the approval of hijab for female Muslim students.
“Worse still, CAN incite its members in the state to occupy the schools. It was this direct and open incitement that culminated in the violence witnessed on Wednesday, 17th March 2021, in some of the schools.”
MURIC said it deems it necessary, at this stage, for the state government to put its feet down and rename the schools.
It added:
“The state government must rename those controversial schools. They may be given names derived from the areas in which they are located.”
Recall that violence erupted on Wednesday, March 17 in Ilorin after the Kwara state government reopened 10 schools shut last month over the use of hijab by Muslim female students.
The violence started after Christian officials of Baptist School, Surulere disallowed girls in hijab from gaining access into the school.
The action did not go down well with Muslim parents, leading to arguments and eventual clash, with both sides throwing various objects including stones and plastic chairs at themselves.
Security operatives close to the school had to call for reinforcement to calm the situation and dispersed the warring factions with tear gas.
Legit.ng had reported that the decision to allow Muslim female students to wear hijab in the schools was rejected by the Kwara Baptist Conference.
Kicking against the government's move, the president of the conference, Reverend Victor Dada, said the governor of the state acted in contempt of the court because the case is still pending.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
