Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), has decried the use of young girls wearing hijab (veil) for suicide-bombing.
National Armirah of FOWMAN, Hajia Amina Omoti, made the condemnation at a news conference heralding its Annual National Conference 2015 in Ilorin on Thursday.
Omoti noted that the use of girls wearing hijab for bombing necessitated the call for the ban of the veil in some quarters.
"We are equally worried by the unsolicited advice to government in different print and electronic media to ban its use.’’
Represented by the association’s National Naibat–Amirah, Hajia Farida Sada-Yusuf, Omoti noted that FOWMAN was objecting to the call because the ban would deprive female Muslims their right to worship.
"FOMWAN is deeply concerned and worried at the unfortunate use of young and innocent girls wearing hijab to create havoc in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.’’
"Nigeria is a multi-religious country where freedom of religion and worship are guaranteed in Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. Any attempt to ban Hijab, a prescribed dress code of the Muslim woman in the Noble Qur'an 24 verse 30 and 31, is tantamount to trampling on the right of the Muslim woman to worship," Omoti said.
The FOWMAN national president, therefore, urged government to rather remain focused in its fight to end insurgency and not be distracted by those calling for ban of hijab.