With reference to write ups concerning wearing of Hijab and subsequent protest by selected Muslim Parents in International School Ibadan (ISI), I hereby make my submission below:

To start with, it’s a pity that Muslims do preach that Islam is a Religion of Peace. All what was said in the write ups by Prof Ishaq Akintola (President of Muslim Rights Concern {MURIC}) and Prof Salisu Shehu (Deputy General Secretary, Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs {NSCIA}) are all FICTIONS. I don’t know why they just don’t embrace peace and live with others peacefully with tolerance. And to say that these people spreading all these false news and information are Professors. Their Professorial status was merited via their scholarship and thus are more informed and knowledgeable and should not misinform or mislead others. They are people who are looked up to in the society for proper direction and guidance.

The Secondary School, ISI, was founded and established by a British-German Educator Kurt Hahn a Christian in October 1963 with funding from USAID, Ford Foundation and donation of land space by the Nigerian Western Regional Government. Most of the pioneer teaching staff were British expatriates’ educators from Gordonstoun in Scotland.

The school is a co-educational Boarding and Day School, admitting pupils aged 10 to 16. It was primarily established to meet the need of finding a school with a world class standard comparable to schools in Europe and Northern America for children of expatriates, living and working in Nigeria. It opened its doors to pupils of both expatriates of diverse nationalities and highly placed Nigerians. The social setting that ISI provided attracted more patronage from people of all races.

Also the principals who have headed the school have been mostly Reverend Fathers and one Muslim. The first Principal was David S. Snell (1963–1965) of blessed memory; followed by John Gillespie (1965–1968). The longest serving Principal was an Anglican clergy, Archdeacon J.A. Iluyomade (1969–1985) of blessed memory. He was also the first indigenous head of the school. After him was Rev. (Dr.) Dapo Ajayi (1986–1988) also of blessed memory, then Dapo Fajembola (1990–1991) also of blessed memory. Thereafter came the first female Principal, Esther Adetola Smith (1991–2004). After her was R.O. Akintilebo (2006–2007) who was the first Muslim Principal, Dr. M.B Malik (2007–2017) and Phebean O. Olowe (2017-present).

It should be stated that between 2004 and 2006 when the school had internal crises and administrative issues a Non-Academic Staff of the University, Mr. Augustine Onwueme of Blessed memory was assigned by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Odejide as an administrator to manage the affairs of ISI. Mr. Augustine Onwueme was an administrator from June/July, 2004 until his demise in December 2005 on contract basis.

The school dress code with the emphasis of no HEAD COVER means no scarf, beret or the hijab. Permit me to say that the wearing of Hijab is not on religious bases but cultural (way of life). The region where the mode of dressing emanated from was in the Middle East which is a desert and thus the need to protect their eyes from blindness due to the sand dust. ISI is a private school not funded by any Government or even the University of Ibadan. The University of Ibadan only manages the affairs and administration of the School thus informing as Chairman of the School Governing Council to be the appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Institution.

This is a school where a praying ground is provided for the Muslims to observe their prayers and if you must know it’s because of the Muslims that the school closes on Friday by 12.30pm in other for Muslim students to observe Jumat and they are actually been conveyed to the Mosque in the University for prayers.

Also on Sundays, as the Christian students have their Fellowship in school, The Muslim Student Society (MSS) of ISI has one of the staff of the school who comes around on Sunday to anchor the fellowship with them on ISI premises. The Islamic Religion Knowledge /Arabic Language Studies was introduced into the school curriculum by Mr. R. O. Akintilebo during his tenure. He initiated this by engaging tutors who came and teach the students on a part time bases.

If ISI is discriminating as claimed by the writers, Mr. R. O. Akintilebo would never be employed to head the school as a Principal. His appointment was on merit as he was one of the teachers in the school. Please tell me, is there any discrimination against the Muslims as petitioned by the unrecognized International School Muslim Parents’ Forum (ISMPF)? Why is it so difficult for people to abide by the rules and regulations of a school? No one forced those clamoring for the use of Hijab to bring their kids to ISI. There are lots of Islamic Secondary schools in Oyo state where without any difficulty they can wear their Hijab. The man who started this madness Abdurrahman Balogun (Chairman of International School Muslim Parents’ Forum {ISMPF}, an association not recognized by the school authorities), in ISI who was distributing the Hijab to the girls at the school car park on Monday 12 November, 2018 enrolled his child last year into JSS1. This is his second year in ISI.

Following day, Tuesday 13th November the school management had a PTA meeting and parents made their grievances known to the management. Funny enough some of the parents and the Alumni who attended the PTA meeting to speak were Muslims and they emphasized their displeasure by what their Muslim counterparts are causing in the school. I was at that PTA meeting (being a parent whose child has been attending the school for over three years) and I witnessed all that transpired.

An email sent in by one Alhaja Basirat Banke Adeniyi was read by the chairman, Lawyer Kazeem Olaniyi of the recognized PTA in the school (also a Muslim), where she expressed her disappointment over the acts of the ISMPF and suggested by mentioning Muslim schools in Ibadan that these aggrieved parents can take their kids to, if they cannot abide by the rules and regulations of ISI.

The culprit of this whole madness, Abdurrahman Balogun who wrote the petition about discrimination of the Muslim students in the school and the need to wear hijab was shut down by majority of the parents from talking, for disrupting the peace of the institution which has been established over 55years where the students are all tutored together irrespective of their religion or ethnic differences.

Parents at the meeting were even asking what form of discrimination was experienced by these Muslim children, none was ever mentioned.

The governing council however met on Wednesday 14 November and gave their final verdict that the school will maintain its status quo one of which is no wearing of any form of head cover and anyone who violates this should not be allowed inside the school premises or the parents should take such kids to other schools where it is permitted to wear any form of head cover such as hijab.

The irony about this, is the fact that those parents who are headstrong about the decision of the Governing Council has instructed their daughters to wear the hijab thus hindering their entering the school premises and attending their classes. These are the girls seen outside the school gate with their hijab on, 8 of them in number.

While other Muslim parents abided by the school authorities and Governing Council verdict, instructed their girls to remove their hijab so that they can be allowed to enter the school premises and continue with their classes. These other 8 girls have been attending the school without Hijab for years until their parents are woken from their slumber by this spoiler and enemy of peace, Abdurrahman Balogun who was said to have established the ISI Muslim Parents Association Forum, an illegal association not recognized by the school authorities aside from the PTA.

Funny thing is his own child is attending classes. Do you know why? His child is a boy while those who are supporting his cause have their kids to be girls and with the new rule of no wearing of hijab they are denied access into the school. I rest my case. But the question are: Will the wearing of hijab make their girls more brilliant or better still take them to heaven? If the foreign Christians who established the school had said strictly no other person of other religion except from Christianity should attend, maybe this problem would not have emerged.

The Muslim parents who are supporting this cause some of them actually got educated through their attendance of mission schools owned by Catholics, Methodist, Baptist and Anglican. I went to St. Louis Girls Secondary School Mokola and the late Arisekola Alao’s daughter Fatima who was a junior attended and her other siblings attended ISI. Also the Baale of Bodija Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan’s two daughters, Folake and Tolani attended my school (St. Louis) in fact Folake was my mate. Although she was taken away in her final year because Folake actually converted to a Christian of her own free will.

We have Muslims sending their children to Christian Private owned Universities like Babcock, Bowen, Covenant, Redeemers and so on. Why can’t they agitate for wearing of Hijab in this private owned tertiary institutions, if they can clamour for such in ISI which is equally a private owned Secondary School. At least I know there are Muslim owned universities like Crescent University in Abeokuta and Fountain University at Osogbo all in South West. One can go on and on about this. It’s all optional and choice you don’t have to force your own religion doctrines on others violating the laid down rules and then going about spreading false information of discrimination against Muslim students.

*Adegoke is a parent at UIIS and a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan.

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In this interview by SAKIBU OLOKOJOBI, the chairman of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum, championing the hijab cause, Alhaji Abdur Rahman Balogun, speaks on the crisis and the possible next line of action. Excerpt: 

When was the association of Muslim parents at the University of Ibadan International School formed and what is the motive behind it? We are asking this question against the backdrop of the existence of a Parents-Teachers Association which is meant to take care of the interest of all.

ISI Muslim Parents Forum was formed about five years ago and it is solely to take care of the welfare of our Muslim children in the school. We are also members of PTA body.

Your association is advocating for the use of hijab in the school.   What suddenly informed the campaign, considering that the school has been existing for many years without such a policy?

Our children have been suffering in silence for years and we cannot afford to continue in that way; the children have been suffering in silence in the areas of segregation of classes of Muslim children from others, denial of worship, barring muslim girls from using hijab, lack of place of worship among other denials

Had there been any audience with the school authority over these issues before your children stormed the school in hijab?  If there was any meeting on it, what was the outcome?

Parents wrote several letters before now and they were not acknowledged. Even the recent letter dated October 26, which was widely publicized did not get any response from the management.  Till date, no response.

Your request has been met with stiff resistance by the school authority.  What is your view about the action of the school?

The action of the school is barbaric, intolerant, crude, despicable and unconstitutional.  It is not in line with all known norms and civility as some of our children who adorned hijab were locked up in the school library for hours last week Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Also, they were locked outside the school gate on Thursday and Friday.

Your request has been rejected.  What is your next line of action?  Do you plan to go to court or withdraw your children from the school?

We will seek redress in court if we are pushed to the wall to fight for the fundamental human rights of our children.

What is your thought about the chances that your action may cause a religious tension which may get out of hand?

It is the action of Mrs. Phebean Olowe that is causing the tension.  A girl, Aminat Akinlabi, wore hijab in that school during the 2017/2018 academic session and there was no tension. So, why is the Principal generating tension by denying our children?

There has been increase in the use of hijab in schools.  Of what significance is the use of hijab to the injunctions of Islam? What does the Quran say about it?

It is a divine injunction as contained in many verses of the Qur’an. It is not for fashion for a Muslim girl but obedience to her Creator, Allah and a constitutional right in Nigeria. See Quran 24 verse 31 and Quran 33 Verse 59.

Some see the use of hijab more of a fashion trend than efforts to adhere to religious injunction.  What is your view?

It is not. It is a must for all Muslim girls and women. Again, see Quran 24 verse 31 and Quran 33 Verse 59.

There has been an increase in the use of hijab by Muslims these days.  However, one is at a loss as to the use of hijab when the person wearing it is putting on leggings or tight-fitting trousers showing all her shapes as against Islamic rules. What is your comment?

May Allah forgive them as that is not the prescribed adornment by their Creator.

You belong to different Islamic organisations.  What are you doing to sensitise Muslim women to the correct use of hijab?

We carry out seminars, lectures, sensitisation and role modeling as well as mentoring of young girls by their mothers who adorn hijabs and have achieved professionally.

Beyond the campaign for hijab, what other things are you advocating for in the school?

We are advocating for freedom of worship, stoppage of distribution of bibles to Muslims, segregation of classes, lopsidedness in the appointment of school prefects among several others.

How best do you think the crisis over use of hijab can best be resolved?

It can best be resolved through tolerance, abiding by the rule of law, fairness, equity and justice.

The post INTERVIEW: UIIS hijab crisis: Blame school authority for causing tension –Balogun, muslim parents chairman appeared first on Frontpageng.

It also described it as a threat to girl-child education.

The group made the remark on Tuesday in a statement issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The group berated the principal of the school, Mrs. Phebean Olowe, saying her action showed that she was not in tune with reality.

MURIC said she was draconian in her ways and retarding the progress of UIIS.

Said MURIC:  “We are surprised that at a time when the whole world is struggling to boost girl-child education and reduce the number of out-of-school children, a female school administrator of her status is issuing anti-girl-child education directives. It is such a shame. Britain and America are encouraging the wearing of hijab in their schools but here we find a school administrator constituting herself into a cog in the wheel of progress particularly in the area of girl-child education. Can this be attributed to lack of exposure? This principal is in dire need of a sabbatical leave outside Nigeria.

“She should have known that UIIS is an elitist academic environment where all the parents (Christians or Muslims) know their rights. Many of the Muslim parents are staff of the university. Why must she chew more than she can swallow? Why must she bring an alien, parochial and archaic agenda to an academic setting? This is obviously a failure in administration.

“A good administrator will consult parents before taking such a sensitive decision and there are a lot of opportunities for her to do that. Religion is a sensitive matter. She must have a hidden agenda otherwise she would not have made such an attempt in view of the proliferation of hijab stories in the news. No school administrator worth the salt will issue an anti-hijab instruction in view of recent events around the country unless such a principal is from Mars or Mercury.”

The Islamic group commended the parents who participated in a peaceful protest at the school gate over the ban on hijab.

MURIC said, “Peaceful protest is an extention of dialogue where there are grievances to address. It is an Allah-given fundamental right of all citizens. Nobody has the right to take it from us.

“We hail the Muslim parents of UIIS for standing up in loco parentis. These parents have refused to abdicate their responsibilities. They have a duty to educate their children and to monitor their progress as prescribed in Qur’an 2:233. They have successfully done that. They also have a duty to protect their children from abuse, stigma and religious discrimination. They have proved that they are capable of doing that. We are proud of them.”

UIIS was shut down with immediate effect on Monday when some of its students appeared in school wearing hijab.

The action was against the management’s prescribed school dress code.

Some parents under the aegis of International School Muslim Parents’ Forum, had in a petition to the principal earlier stated that it wanted to “put the school management on notice of this resolution on the rights of our female children to commence the use of hijab from this academic session of 2018/2019.”

The petition was signed by Alhaji Abdurrhaman Balogun (chairman) and Bilikis Badiru (secretary) of the forum.

“Hijab wearing for young Muslim girls, apart from the fact that it is part of their religious belief, is part of their God given fundamental human right as well as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the parents said.

But when the pupils arrived school wearing hijab, both school assembly and classes were cancelled.

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