A coalition of Muslim women’s organisations in Nigeria has once again called for an end to discrimination against women who wear the hijab, urging government and public institutions to uphold constitutional and judicial protections that guarantee religious freedom.
The appeal was made on Thursday during a press briefing held to mark World Hijab Day at the Lagos State Secretariat Community Central Mosque Hall in Ikeja, Lagos. The event, themed “Unity in Hijab” with the local emphasis on “One Sisterhood”, brought together advocates and faith leaders seeking to spotlight what they described as persistent violations of hijab rights across educational, workplace and public spaces.
Speaking at the briefing, Mutiat Orolu-Balogun, Executive Director of the Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative, reiterated that Muslim women across Nigeria were joining millions worldwide in affirming that the hijab is “a symbol of faith, dignity and unity, rather than a basis for exclusion.” She stressed that World Hijab Day promotes religious tolerance and understanding, adding that discrimination against hijab-wearing women contradicts both national values and global norms.
Orolu-Balogun noted that despite constitutional provisions and judicial decisions, harassment and denials of rights continue unabated.
At the event, Maryam Abdur-Rasheed of the Pure Heart Foundation underscored that wearing the hijab is rooted in religious belief, not cultural or political expression. Citing Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, she explained that restrictions on hijab usage violate the fundamental right to freedom of religion.
“Restricting the hijab violates the fundamental right to freedom of religion,” Abdur-Rasheed said, framing the hijab not merely as attire but as a protected religious practice.
The briefing also brought focus to specific communities facing compounded discrimination. Kudrah Ogunmuyiwa, representing the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), drew attention to Igbo Muslim women, who she said are subjected to a “double vulnerability” because of both their ethnicity and religion. Ogunmuyiwa condemned rising hate speech and threats in parts of the Southeast, calling on law enforcement and community leaders to act swiftly to protect Muslim women.
“Igbo Muslim women are facing a dangerous double vulnerability, targeted for both their faith and their ethnicity… authorities must act decisively to protect Muslim women,” she said.
Other participants pointed to intersecting issues affecting Muslim women beyond religious discrimination. Hussainat Akintola of Al-Muminaat highlighted accessibility concerns for women with disabilities, calling for disability-friendly mosques and inclusive policies to ensure Muslim women are not excluded from public and religious spaces due to physical barriers.
Against the backdrop of Nigeria’s legal framework, Rofiat Tijani of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (Lagos area) criticised ongoing subtle forms of discrimination in schools, such as forced “tuck-in” rules, concealment under non-religious items and threats of suspension, which she described as unlawful despite existing Supreme Court rulings affirming hijab rights.
“Despite clear Supreme Court rulings, Muslim students continue to face subtle but persistent discrimination in schools. Forcing girls to hide their hijabs or threatening suspension is unlawful and unacceptable,” Tijani said.
The coalition also flagged problems encountered at public service points, including ports of entry and driver’s licence centres, where Muslim women are allegedly required to remove hijabs for biometric capturing — a practice activists say is discriminatory and not mandated by international standards or official guidelines.
“Hijab-wearing women are routinely asked to remove their hijabs for biometric capture… This practice must stop,” said Akanbi Maryam of Akhwaat.
Meanwhile, Ummulkhayr Adeleke-Lawal of Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society criticised demands that Muslim women expose their ears for identification at driver’s licence centres, insisting that international biometric guidelines do not require visible ears and that such practices are unlawful.
To address these challenges, the coalition urged the Federal Government, state governments, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and regulatory bodies to issue clear directives, provide adequate training for personnel, impose sanctions on offenders and establish robust mechanisms for complaints and enforcement.
In closing, speakers appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, lawmakers and all Nigerians to uphold justice and constitutional fidelity, urging that 2026 be remembered as the year Nigeria chose unity over prejudice and equal rights over discrimination.
