There have been strong rumours in the Muslims circle about the ban of Hijab by the Buhari administration and the president has made clarifications concerning the issue.
The Presidency has dismissed insinuations and rumours 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.