Group Cautions Edo On Hijab Ban in Public Schools

Benin — A group under the aegis of Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (EMEGG) has cautioned the Edo State Government against any plan to ban wearing of hijab by Muslim female students in public schools. A statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Sirajudeen Muhammad, and made available to journalists yesterday, said a circular released by the State Ministry of Education on April 2, 2014, made intent to ban the wearing of hijab by Muslim female students in public schools. He alleged that the circular was issued under the watch of the state governor whose mother is a practicing Muslim. "We thus advise that you retrace your step and rescind this decision or be prepared to face a legal battle of unprecedented proportion," Muhammad said. The group also criticized Governor Adams Oshiomhole for sacking the only Muslim commissioner in his cabinet and replacing him with a Christian from an area mostly populated by Muslims, and asserted that the governor failed to fulfill his promise of employing 100 teachers to teach Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) in Edo schools.