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MURIC battles NDPHC over man allegedly denied job for wearing beard

David Adenekan
David Adenekan
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Akintola

The Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) over alleged discriminatory treatment bordering on religious apartheid against one Mahmud Muhammed Katun.

The action was said to have commenced since February 1, 2016.

MURIC, in a statement issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said Katun had raised alarm that he was being discriminated against on the account of wearing beard.

The statement reads in part:  “According to the complainant, he was appointed officer (1) on grade level 4 with the generation department of NDPHC. His letter of appointment Ref: NDPHC/NIPP/HR/1187/2015 was dated November 18, 2015. He resigned his job as strictly required in the letter of appointment only to be denied resumption because he wore a beard and therefore looked like a radical Muslim.

“According to the letter written to the company by his lawyer dated 24th February, 2017, ‘He was told by the General Manager Human Resources to give him some time to enable him carry out security investigations about his person to find out whether he was a religious fanatic based on his appearance because of his beards which portrayed him as a Muslim.’

“In a letter dated 2nd May, 2017, the company’s lawyer requested that all correspondences on the matter should be addressed to him. Not satisfied, citizen Mahmud reacted by sending a petition on the matter to the Federal Ministry of Justice on 4th March, 2019. The ministry acknowledged his petition with a letter dated 2nd May, 2017 ref No. PEI/CRD/4304/1/8 assuring him that the issue was receiving its attention.”

But condemning the action of the NDPHC, MURIC said Katun was not fairly treated.

“NDPHC’s treatment of citizen Mahmud is despicable. It should be condemned by all right-thinking Nigerians and all lovers of justice, fairness and equity. It is callous, unsavory and detestable. The company asked him to resign as a condition of offer of appointment. He did but was denied resumption of duty simply because he has a beard. This is criminal profiling. It is another bad example of man’s inhumanity to man. It is unacceptable.

“Nigerians can now see the problem with their country. Citizen Mahmud received the letter of interview on 30th October, 2015. He attended the interview on 3rd November, 2015. He was found competent and so he collected a letter of appointment on 7th December, 2015 yet he was denied the same job when he tried to resume duty on 1st February, 2016.

“We have no doubt that the human resources manager has supplanted him with another incompetent person, probably of another faith. Citizen Mahmud attended the job interview with his beard on 3rd November, 2015 and nothing was said about it at that stage. How can the beard become an issue at the point of resumption of duty? Jobs are being brandished in places of worship. Referrals are only acceptable if they come from religious leaders. Who did this to Nigeria?

“Thousands of qualified Muslims are victims of stigmatization. They are denied jobs on account of their faith. They are oppressed. They have been forced to the foot of the pyramid of poverty. Excellence is being sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. Who cursed Nigeria?

“MURIC charges the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to invoke Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this matter as a deterrent to those who use their positions to profile and victimise people of other faiths.”

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