Emmanuel Ukudolo
January 26, 2016 – National Amirah of Al-Ma’Minat, Hajia Nimatullah Abdul Lateef has condemned what she described as anguish that Muslim women who are lovers of Hijab have been subjected to after President Muhammad Buhari in his media chat said he might be considering a ban on Hijab, if Boko Haram continues bombing, using Hijab.
The Amirah who was speaking at a press conference in Lagos as part of activities marking World Hijab Day said the President’s utterance generated unprecedented uproar from lovers and haters of Hijab.
She however thanked Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mr. Garba Shehu for promptly releasing a statement to put what the President said in perspective.
Nevertheless, she recalled that Hijabis were persecuted, harassed and suffered psychological and emotional anguish.
She recalled attempt by the Nigerian Identity Management Commission(NIMC) in Ibadan, where officers attempted to legislate and limit the Hijab standard of Muslim women as free citizen as well as harassment by officers and men of the Nigerian army all over Nigeria.
She said that all other government agencies like Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS) and Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) are also trying to rob the Muslim Hijabi her right to freedom of religious expression by demanding that she expose her ears, during image capturing.
‘’We call on the leadership of these agencies to call their men to order”, adding that Muslim women have the right to wear Hijab.
She said the Hijab represents virtuous woman and morality, adding that those using Hijab for crime are copycats and that it is not limited to Hijab since criminals have also used uniform of military personnel to commit crime.
Recall that use of Hijab covering the ear to the back, excluding the face is said to be based on Qur’an 24:31.
“And tell the believing women to restrain their looks, and to guard their privates, and not display their beauty except what is apparent thereof, and to draw their coverings over their breasts, and not expose their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, what their right hands possess, their male attendants who have no sexual desires, or children who are not yet aware of the nakedness of women. And they should not strike their feet to draw attention to their hidden beauty. And repent to God, all of you believers, so that you may succeed”, the Qur’an instructed.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile Yusuf said the Hijab is an act of honour and dignity, an empowerment and a guarantee that a woman will be judged according to her inner spiritual beauty rather than her outer superficial appearance.
“The Hijab liberates and raises a woman’s status and demands that she be judged according to her intellect, ability, competence and potential rather than her sexuality”, she said.
The commissioner who was represented by Rashidat Umar, an Assistant Youth Development Officer said the reason women observe Hijab is because of Almighty Allah.
