CAN expresses displeasure on Appeal Court ruling on hijab

THE Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Friday expressed its displeasure on Thursday’s Court of Appeal decision, allowing Muslim female students to wear Hijab in government funded schools. A statement signed by Secretary, Rev. Israel Akinadewo said Lagos State is a cosmopolitan state, in which the development and peace, all have witnessed over the years, have been majorly because of the good relationship between Christian and Muslim leadership, and their cooperation with successive governments. “Some of these public schools are missionary schools, bearing Christian names, hence any implementation of this judgement is tantamount to islamizing the state of excellence,” he said. According to the statement, Christian and Muslim leaders are both members of Nigeria InterReligious Council (NIREC) in Lagos, and “we have worked perfectly well together. We can only appeal to the State government to take all legal steps immediately, in reversing this judgement, before the Mega City vision for Lagos State is destroyed through religious extremism. “There should be a standard dress code for all, to be made public for all students who attend public schools in Lagos State. Tax payers monies are used for the establishment and running of these schools, hence religious dress codes should not be allowed under any circumstance. This is even with the fact that religious bodies can establish private schools, and the demands of their religion can then be effectively implemented.”