Hijab: Muslim women want action against discrimination
Nigerian Muslim Women joined their counterparts around the world to commemorate 2018 World Hijab Day (WHD), launched by a Bangladeshi woman, Nazma Khan. Each year on February 1, Khan’s non-profit organisation invites females of all faiths, backgrounds and ethnicities to wear the hijab for a day in solidarity with Muslim women worldwide. Since its inception […]
Nigerian Muslim Women joined their counterparts around the world to commemorate 2018 World Hijab Day (WHD), launched by a Bangladeshi woman, Nazma Khan.
Each year on February 1, Khan’s non-profit organisation invites females of all faiths, backgrounds and ethnicities to wear the hijab for a day in solidarity with Muslim women worldwide.
Since its inception in 2013, more than 70 global ambassadors from over 45 countries have been involved and women from around 190 countries participate in the annual event.
This year’s event, themed, #StrongInHijab saw Muslim women from around the world, joined by females of other faiths, marching through cities to break the false stereotypes about the religious head covering and the resultant molestation.
Globally, prejudice and discrimination against the hijab abound and advocacy groups have reported a rise in apparent Islamophobia and hate crimes in recent years.
“I am particularly very concerned about discrimination women who wear the hijab face in the job market,” WHD’s founder, Khan told Al Jazeera.
Her organization, she said, is working on building an educational programme called “Corporate Anti-Islamophobia Program (CAIP)” to lessen discrimination against Muslims in the corporate sector.
Recently in Nigeria, a graduate of Nigerian Law Firdaus Amasa was denied access to the venue of the call to the bar ceremony for donning the hijab.
“The saga of Firdaus Amasa though indeed unfortunate brings to the fore, the dislocation that exists within our journey of nation building,” the Coalition of Muslim Women in Nigeria, said on the occasion of WHD celebration in Abuja.
“The colonial legacies we still hold on to have long expired and we need to move on in the direction of justice, mutual respect and common values that enhance our nationhood,” said Hajiya Ramatu Sani who spoke on behalf of the coalition.
She therefore called for more awareness on the importance and propriety of the hijab, while advocating a general review of dress code in all professions to allow Muslim women wear the Islamic head cover.
At a special lecture organized by the coalition, Wife of President Hajiya Aisha Buhari said it is important to accord the desired respect for those using hijab as it connotes honour, respect, dignity and its observance being to please Allah.
Represented by Barrister Aisha Galadima Gana, Hajiya Aisha urged Muslim women to imbibe fear of Allah, etiquette, and embodiment of good character which the usage of hijab entails.
Hajiya Amina Sambo, ex-vice president’s wife, called for continuous dialogue and enlightenment so that more people can understand the propriety of hijab usage.
The guest lecturer and National Legal Adviser, Dawah Coordinating Council of Nigeria (DCCN), Mallam AbdulWahab Oyedokun called for sustain efforts at ensuring that the rights of Nigerian Muslim women to use hijab are protected.
At hijab awareness rally in Lagos, the Leader of Al-Muminaat group, Hajia Khadijah AbdusSalam said Muslim women should not be sidelined based on their appearance.
Muslim women, she said, should be protected from molestation and discrimination for their choice to cover their hair.
“We are Nigerians and should neither be oppressed nor molested when we are serving our Lord through our mode of dressing,” said a pharmacist, Afusat Adeshina during the rally organized by the federation of Muslim women association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Al-Muminaat, Nasrullahil Fatih (NASFAT) and the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).