The Hijab and other forms of Islamic veiling are important social, cultural, and religious symbols that are central to the identity of millions of Muslim women across the world.
The court of appeal had ruled that it was okay for Muslim girls to wear the hijab in school.
But the supreme court overturned the decision and said that the decision to allow Muslim girls to wear the hijab in a church sponsored school belonged to the school, meaning that muslim girls could not be allowed in school with a hijab.
These decision has ignited a full-scale debate over the propriety of Muslim school going children wearing the hijab.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya and Haki Africa, a Mombasa based NGO, Thursday protested against the decision terming it as “unfair” to the Muslim community.
CIPK organising secretary Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa said the decision by the top court is against the Constitution.
“This is not right and the decision could disrupt peace amongst us as Kenyans. This is unfair and the decision has angered us as a community. We need this decision to be reconsidered,” said Sheikh Khalifa.
Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid said they were “shocked and disappointed” by the decision claiming that it gives schools, particularly private ones, the discretion to decide whether to allow hijabs or not.
“While the ruling does not automatically outlaw hijabs. It now means that Akorinos and Singhs will now also be forced not to wear their head gears while in such schools,” said Mr Khalid.
Should muslim girls wear Hijab?