Muslim parents forum to challenge hijab ban at Supreme Court

The ISI Muslim Parents Forum (ISIMPF) says it volition entreaty to the Supreme Court aft the Court of Appeal upheld the University of Ibadan International School (ISI-UI)’s prohibition connected pistillate Muslim students wearing hijabs.

The case, which lasted 7 years, was filed by 11 Muslim students. In a divided 2–1 decision, the Court of Appeal ruled successful favour of the school.

Justices Biobele Georgewill and K.I. Amadi, who delivered the bulk judgment, said ISI-UI should beryllium treated arsenic a backstage schoolhouse due to the fact that it does not person authorities funding. They besides ruled that the Supreme Court’s 2022 determination allowing hijabs applies lone to nationalist schools successful Lagos State, not backstage schools similar ISI-UI.

The judges further held that the students had accepted the school’s rules by signing its codification of conduct, including the azygous policy. Justice Georgewill said, “No infringement of rights was noticed.”

However, the tribunal recovered that the schoolhouse violated the students’ rights by locking them successful the room for 3 to 4 hours. It reduced the compensation awarded by the Oyo State High Court from N1 cardinal to N200,000.

In the dissenting judgment, Justice Fadawu Umar agreed with the High Court’s earlier ruling and dismissed the school’s appeal, saying it lacked merit.

Reacting to the judgment, ISIMPF Chairman Abdu...