Showing posts with label Hijab: Why The Nigerian Supreme Court Erred. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hijab: Why The Nigerian Supreme Court Erred. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Hijab: Why The Nigerian Supreme Court Erred

 By Malcolm Emokiniovio Omirhobo

In a majority decision of six in favour and one dissent, the apex court of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja affirmed the rights of Muslims Female Students in Lagos state public primary and secondary schools to wear Hijab.

The Supreme Court erroneously held that wearing the hijab was an Islamic injunction and an act of worship required of Muslims and consequently, the banning of female Muslim students from wearing Hijab to school is a violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, dignity of human persons and freedom from discrimination.

The Supreme Court heavily relied on section 38 of the 1999 constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian citizen the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The justices failed to see the rights contained in section 38 of the constitution as private rights that must be exercised privately in our homes, place of worship, community, religious schools and not in the public or public schools for that matter funded with taxpayers money.