Abiola Kolawole, Ibadan
Some Muslim Parents of the University of Ibadan International School (ISI), have dragged the Management of the school to Court over the defendants’ alleged violation of human rights by denying some female students of the school right to wear hijab on their school uniform.
The group is demanding that their female choldren be allowed to wear hijab on their school uniform in the school premises.
The UI International School has been in the news lately following its management’s opposition to the use of hijab on the school uniform by some Muslim female students of the school who insisted on wearing hijab on their school uniform.
A group known as Muslim Parents’ Forum had written a letter notifying the school authorities and the principal officers of the University of Ibadan that their children would be wearing hijab in the school.
The Muslim pupils donned their hijab on Monday, November 12 and this led to the cancellation of the regular morning devotion on that day, locking up of the pupils in the library by the school authorities later in the week and school was shut following week for seven days.
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| ISI on November 12 after the cancellation of morning assembly |
In the suit No: M/706/2018 filed on behalf of the 14 applicants by Messrs Abdulkareem, Fajimite and Co. at Oyo state High Court was served on Monday on the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka.
Others who received their services were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academic), Prof. Adeyinka Aderinto, who is the Chairman, Board of Governors of ISI and Mrs Phebean Olowe, Principal, ISI, University of Ibadan.
The suit is asking for a declaration of the Court that the continuous denial of the 1st to 11th applicants’ right to use Hijab on their school uniform within the premises of the ISI, Ibadan is wrongful and unconstitutional.
“It constitutes a violation of the applicants rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom from discrimination and right to dignity of the human persons and right to education as guaranteed by section 38(1) (a) and (b) and 42 (1) (a) & (b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
“And Articles 2, 5, 8, 10, 17 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9, Laws of the Federation, 2004)’’.
The suit also sought for a declaration that the locking up and miliation of the 1st-11th Applicants by the 1st-4th Respondents by themselves and /or agents or privies as a result of the use of Hijab by the 1st-11th Applicants is a violation of the Applicants’ Fundamental Human Rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom from discrimination and right to the dignity of the human person, right to education and right to free association as guaranteed under Section 38 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Other prayers of the suit include an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their officers, agents, privies or servants from further interfering or infringing in any manner with the fundamental rights of the 1st -11th Applicants and other female Muslim Students of International School Ibadan who have resolved or are obliged to use or are using Hijab on their school uniforms in the exercise of the Applicants rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom from discrimination and right to the dignity of the human person, right to education and right to free association.
The applicants in the matter who sued through their parents were Moridiyya Yekinni, Ikhlas Badiru, Mahmudah Babarinde, Faridah Akerele, Aakifah Dokpesi, Aaliyah Dokpesi, Iman Akinoso, Raheemah Akinlusi, Faridah Moshood, Hamdallah Olusunde and Aliyah Adebayo.
The 12th to 14th Applicants who sued on behalf of ISI Muslim Parents Forum were Abdur-Rahman Balogun (Chairman), Ridwan Ademola and Bolaji Ajani.
The case has been slated for hearing Friday December 21, 2018 before Honourable Justice Ladiran Akintola of State High Coutrt, Ring Road, Ibadan.
