14th December, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
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, 14th December, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director
of the Islamic human rights organization, 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.”
#KudosNigerianNavy
#HijabInNavySchools
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
No comments:
Post a Comment