The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is condemning the actions of a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) supervisor who allegedly forced female Muslim students to remove their hijabs before entering an exam hall.
MURIC’s founder and director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, released a statement on Friday demanding sanctions against the supervisor.
“The Geography Supervisor of the WAEC examination taken on Friday, 31 May, 2024 at the International School, Ibadan, infringed on Allah-given fundamental rights of female Muslim students by forcing all of them to remove their hijabs before entering the examination hall.
“This is intimidation, coercion and harassment. The supervisor’s action is illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is also in disregard of the rule of law and in contempt of the rulings of the courts of the land, including the Supreme Court,” he said.
According to MURIC, WAEC has previously issued guidelines permitting hijab use and forbidding student harassment. The organization is urging WAEC to take disciplinary action against the supervisor.
Professor Akintola expressed concern that such incidents could lead to public disorder.
“The supervisor’s action is equally provocative and capable of causing public disorder. We note with much concern that instead of confronting those who violate their rights, Muslims in the South-West have been taking legal action.
“What is most disturbing is that even though the courts have been ruling in favour of the Muslims, their oppressors have always been recalcitrant and stubbornly refusing to comply with court rulings.
“This is a sad narrative in the history of interreligious relationships in the South-West,” he added.
The statement further warned of potential consequences: “The natural concomitant followup is that very soon, Muslim leaders in the region will leave the Muslim youths and ask them to take their destiny in their hands since the law appears helpless. The Muslim youths will have no choice than to defend themselves.
“Those who refuse to respect the rule of law will have to face the rule of chaos. They will face the anger of oppressed Muslims who have been pushed to the wall.
“It is simply impossible for Muslims in the South-West to be law-abiding if the Christians are lawless. There is no other way to put it.”
MURIC threatened to blacklist exam centers and workplaces where Muslim rights are violated, suggesting picketing as a future tactic. The statement noted that this the “next stage in the struggle to liberate Muslims from oppression, downpression and repression.”