The wife of former Vice President, Amina Namadi Sambo, on Sunday, said the harassment and intimidation of Muslim women wearing hijab, violated their fundamental human rights.
Sambo made this assertion at a public lecture to mark the 2019 Annual World Hijab Day, organised by the Coalition of Nigeria Muslim Women held at the National Mosque in Abuja.
According to her, the persecution of Muslim girls and women, who wear hijab in school, workplace and public space is the highest form of religious intolerance.
Sambo said that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had guaranteed the rights of Muslim women to wear hijab in school, workplace, and use it in any profession they wish to belong.
According to her, the wearing of hijab is an act of faith and obedience to the commandment of Allah as clearly stipulated in the Holy Qur’an and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“The wearing of hijab is a direct command from Allah to Prophet Muhammad, who instructed him to tell his wives, children and the believing women to wear hijab,’’ she said,”.
Sambo called on the adherents of other religions to show more understanding by accommodating Muslim girls and women, who use hijab in schools and at workplace in the interest of national cohesion.
She, therefore, advocated door-to-door awareness campaign on hijab to ensure that more people understand the importance of the use of hijab by Muslim women.
Sambo also advised members of the coalition of Nigeria Muslim Women not to relent in their efforts to create more awareness on the use of hijab.
She called on the group to stand against any attempt to prevent Muslim girls and women from wearing hijab in schools or workplace.
The guest speaker, Dr Hajaratu Sulayman, a consultant gynecologist at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, said wearing of hijab was in obedience to the commandment of Allah to enhance the chances of entering paradise.
She, however, advised hijab users to be of good conduct wherever they find themselves, saying “don’t wear hijab and commit acts of immorality and corruption.
Sulayman also advised Muslim women against spending their valuable time on the social media, posting and sharing negatives things; adding that Muslim women were expected to make use of social media positively. (NAN)