Appeal Court Rules Against Hijab Rights for Students

The Appeal Court in Ibadan set aside a May 22, 2024, judgment from the Oyo State High Court that upheld the right of 11 Muslim female students at the University of Ibadan to wear hijabs as part of their school uniform. The court ruled that the institution, being a private school, does not receive government funding, which influenced its decision regarding students' rights to wear hijabs.

Disu Kamor, the Executive Chairman of the Muslim Parents Association of Nigeria (MPAC), described the judgment as biased and lacking fairness, asserting that it directly assaults the constitutional guarantee of freedom of thought and religion. MPAC rejected the court's reasoning, emphasizing that the right to religious freedom should not depend on the funding status of an institution.

The panel found no infringement on the students' religious rights while also upholding the trial court's decision to confine students to the library for three to four hours, which MPAC argued violated their rights. The organization plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.