A group of Muslim women under the auspices of Hijab Rights Advocacy
Initiative has claimed that
their rights were being infringed upon by as
they are being forced to remove hijabs before writing examinations.
The group lamented that most women in hijabs had been denied jobs and
other opportunities in the country, despite their qualifications.
The Coordinator of the group, Hajia Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, on
Wednesday said their constitutional rights were being violated by the
government and private agencies.
Orolu-Balogun was quoted by the Punch as saying, “Women in hijab are
forced to expose their ears and heads before sitting for the Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examination or getting Bank Verification Numbers.
“Imagine being asked to take off your shirt because you want to get
your driving licence, or being told that you would not be able to vote
because you wouldn’t show your cleavage in the picture on your voter
card.
“These, and worse, are what a Muslim woman who wears the hijab faces
when she is asked to take off her hijab before she could be allowed her
constitutional rights.
“The use of hijab is a religious obligation and not an Arab culture that one might discard at will.
“Asking a Muslim woman to remove her hijab is a form of violence
against her; such should have no place in a progressive society like
Nigeria,” she said.

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