MURIC Declares Friday, Day Of Solidarity Over UI Hijab Crisis

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared Friday 12th July, 2019 as a Day of Solidarity with Muslim  girls who are allegedly facing persecution in South-west Nigeria for wearing hijab.

MURIC in a statement issued on Wednesday, its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Wednesday noted that Muslims are one nation throughout the world.

This follows  a video clip that went viral showing the molestation of female Muslim students at the International School of the University of Ibadan (ISI).

The statement said , “The hadith goes on to corroborate this when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Muslims are like one building whose walls firmly support one another’.

It noted that , ‘The example of a community of Muslims is like the example of a man’s body, all parts of the body feel the pain whenever he is hurt.’

According to the statement , “It is in this respect and in response to several telephone calls and text messages sent to MURIC’s headquarters by concerned Muslims that we are declaring Friday 12th July, 2019 the Day of Solidarity in support of all those innocent female Muslim girls that are being persecuted in secondary schools in the South West.

Noting that, particularly the most recent, appalling, disgraceful and barbaric treatment of underaged Muslim girls at the ISI, Ibadan, Oyo state.

“MURIC and all other Islamic organisations and individual Muslims in Nigeria are in solidarity with these innocent girls. Our message to them is this: We are your parents. We are your fathers and mothers. We love you and we will never abandon you. We feel your pain. We assure you that you are not alone. Our hearts are with you, ‘’said the statement.

” Firstly, we urge Imams throughout Nigeria and elsewhere to pray for victory for Muslim girls who are facing persecution for wearing hijab. Pray that Allah will give our daughters the strength of character to withstand their oppressors, downpressors and repressors.

“Secondly, Muslims all over Nigeria are to stage a one-hour solidarity rally in a peaceful manner outside their mosques carrying placards with messages of sympathy with the girls immediately after the Jumu‘ah service. Decorum should be observed during the rallies. Nobody should use provocative or abusive language and nobody should block the smooth flow of traffic or molest passers-by. Neither should participants go beyond the front of their mosques.

MURIC appealed to all Muslims to wear white dresses on that day as a manifestation of peaceful intention and in order to display uniformity in solidarity.

It similarly reiterated MURIC’s commitment to peaceful conduct and affirmed that “the declaration of a Day of Solidarity is just Stage One of our extension of dialogue.

The statement added that MURIC will make more announcements for the next stages as events unfold, particularly if the authorities still do nothing about our grievances.