Posted on: 12:22 Sat, 02 Jan 2016



The Presidency has dismissed
insinuations and rumors that the
Buhari administration has banned
Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing
symbol of modesty.

Giving a clarification on the issue,
Garba Shehu, the President’s
Assistant on Media and Publicity,
said the speculations are unfounded,
and that the Buhari administration
would always respect the rights of
Muslims and others to protect their
modesty and allow religious freedom
as it affects everyone.

An official statement said:

“Everything will be done to balance
national security requirements with
the rights and obligations of citizens
under their religions as protected by
the constitution.”

Shehu, while admitting that the Hijab
is being abused by terrorists to carry
out suicide attacks on innocent
people, which violates the teachings
of Islam, said the President would
not take any decision on the issue
without due consultation with all the
stakeholders.

According to him, the increasing
abuse of the Hijab by terrorists to
perpetrate criminal mass murder
and other atrocities is a reality, and
that the government would address
the security challenge in
consultations with Muslim leaders
with a view to finding a workable
solution.

It would be recalled that President
Muhammadu Buhari in his maiden
media chat said his government may
ban the wearing of Hijab in public
places, in view of its widespread use
in suicide bombing.