Military women can wear hijab if it protects them from bullets —CAN

The Christian Association Of Nigeria, CAN, says the Armed Forces and para-military organisations in the country can allow the female officers of Islamic Religion to wear (Hijab) if it will protect them from bullets at the battlefield.

This was stated by the CAN General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, on Thursday

He was reacting to a bill pending before the House of Representatives which seeks to compel military organisations to permit female officers to wear hijab.

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The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Chairman of The House Committee on Finance and Member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Saidu Abdullahi, the bill was known as the Religious Discrimination (Prohibition, Prevention) Bill, 2020, which has passed second reading at the House

Article 13 of the bill titled, ‘Discrimination in employment insecurity and other sectors,’ prohibits the military from discriminating against anyone wearing a hijab.

The CAN general secretary stated that the issue of hijab should not distract the lawmakers from the real issues of governance, security and economic prosperity, adding that in a country like Afghanistan, military women don’t wear hijab

“If they like they can wear skirt or agbada (flowing gown). If you go to Afghanistan, their military women wear hijab. That is not an issue. If hijab will help them deflect bullets at the battlefield, let them wear it, if that is what they want. Let us not worry ourselves about unnecessary matters”. Daramola said

The National Assembly had earlier been called by the Christian body, to suspend the bill, describing it as “ill-timed and uncalled for.”

CAN have stated, “To what extent does this controversial bill seek to promote peace, order and good governance? Has the dress code become part of the Exclusive Legislative List?

“While the citizens are expecting the National Assembly to make laws that will address the lopsided appointments, insecurity, unemployment and economic predicament, our lawmakers are interested in making laws that seek to promote one religion. This is totally unacceptable in a country with multiple religions.”

In furtherance, he said, a veil worn by Muslim women, hijab, has become a controversial issue in Nigeria. In Kwara State, for instance, an attempt by the government to impose hijab on Christian missionary schools is being resisted by the in-grant Christian colleges.