Muslim leaders under the Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) have protested the Supreme Court ruling that reversed order allowing students to wear hijabs in non-Muslim schools. The leaders have argued the ruling would destroy the good relationship that the Muslims and Christians have been enjoying for long
Speaking to members of the press on Thursday, January 24, MUHURI chairman Khelef Khalifa said it was extremely dangerous for any school to introduce the issues of hijab which has nothing to do with the academic performance of the students.
“A school telling students not to wear hijab could be a victory for al-Shabaab, parents in that school could pull their children out and most probably some of them could join al-Shabaab,” said Khelef.
Court of Appeal judges Philip Waki, Roselyne Nambuye and Patrick Kiage on Thursday, September 8, 2016, ruled in favour of Muslim students from St Paul’s Kiwanjani Day Mixed Secondary school in Isiolo county who sought to be allowed to wear religious veils and trousers.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, January 24, however, reversed the decision by the Appellate court stating that each school had liberty to determine their students’ dress code. “Every school should have the right to determine its own rules.
The ruling by the lower court was against the school uniform policy,” read part of the verdict by the judges sitting in the country’s apex court. However, Khelef said such a decision could undermine the Muslim faith and bring out internal anger from the faithfuls which could disrupt the peace and harmony among Christians and Muslims.
He appealed to school administrators to be considerate to avoid instances of religious extremism and uphold the Constitutional right to freedom of worship.