Hijab ruling: MURIC heads to Supreme Court after appeal loss

The Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court following Friday’s Court of Appeal judgment overturning the decision that allowed Muslim students of the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI), to wear hijab.

The group also filed a Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction pending the determination of the appeal.

Earlier on Friday, the Court of Appeal, in a split decision of two to one, ruled that ISI is a private school and that the Supreme Court’s judgment permitting the use of hijab applies only to public schools.

The appellate court also held that the affected students had waived their right to challenge the school’s dress code by signing an undertaking to abide by its rules and regulations.

However, the court found that keeping the students in the library for between three and four hours violated their rights and consequently reduced the damages awarded from N1 million to N200,000.

Reacting to the judgment, Chairman of the ISI Muslim Parents Forum, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, expressed disappointment and confirmed that the legal battle would continue.

Balogun said: “The struggle continues.”

He added that the forum would challenge the judgment at the nation’s highest court and appealed for calm.

Balogun said: “We will take the matter up at the highest Court in the land,” while urging Nigerians to “remain calm in the face of open oppression.”

He also offered a prayer, saying: “Rabbana lataj’alnaa fitnatan lil-qaomi zaalimeen wa najjinaa birahmatika minal qawmil kaafirin.”

In a separate public notice issued on Friday, MURIC confirmed that it had already filed and served a Notice of Appeal together with a Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction pending appeal.

The organisation said: “The legal implication is that the International School, University of Ibadan, which we believe is a law abiding educational institution, cannot lawfully prevent Muslim students from wearing the hijab pending the hearing and determination of the Motion for Stay of Execution/Injunction pending appeal.”

MURIC also appealed for restraint while the legal process continues.

The group said: “Members of the public, parents, and affected students are kindly advised to remain calm while the legal process runs its course.”