Ibadan High Court Affirms Right to Hijab for Muslim Students at International School Ibadan
In a landmark decision, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has ruled that female Muslim students at the International School Ibadan (ISI) are permitted to wear hijabs with their school uniforms, reinforcing the constitutional right to religious freedom.
Presiding over the case, Justice Moshood Ishola dismissed ISI’s latest appeal, which sought a stay of execution on a previous court decision allowing hijabs. This marks the second time in six months that the court has ruled against the school’s attempts to block students from wearing the hijab. Justice Ishola emphasized that the court had no jurisdiction over ISI’s appeal and reaffirmed the fundamental rights of the students to express their religious beliefs.
During the hearing, ISI’s legal representatives argued that their appeal was procedurally valid, while the students’ counsel, Hassan Fajimite, and Yusuf Anikulapo, representing the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), advocated for protecting the students’ rights to religious expression.
In response to the ruling, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Chairman of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum, expressed relief and welcomed the decision as a significant step toward inclusivity and religious tolerance.
He underscored that the court’s decision supports the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religious expression, particularly within public educational institutions.
This ruling not only upholds the rights of Muslim students at ISI but also sets a precedent for similar cases across Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom in educational settings.
CREDIT: Allschoolabs, Allschool.ng
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