The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), widely known as Shiites, has expressed strong condemnation over the alleged forceful removal of Hijabs from Muslim women by police officers in Abuja.
The group described the incident as a severe violation of religious rights and a blasphemous act against Islam.
In a statement issued by Maryam Sani on behalf of the Sisters Forum of the IMN, the group claimed that Muslim women detained by the police were coerced into removing their Hijabs, a religious headscarf that holds deep significance in Islam.
The statement decried this act as an affront to religious freedom and cultural respect.
“We will publicise this abuse to the public (within and outside the country) and also challenge it in the court of law,” the group declared, signaling their intention to seek legal redress for the alleged violation.
The controversy erupted after a one-minute, twenty-one-second video surfaced on social media, reportedly filmed within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
The video, which quickly went viral, showed police officers allegedly forcing Muslim women in detention to remove their Hijabs.
The footage sparked widespread outrage, particularly among the Muslim community, who viewed it as an egregious breach of religious rights.
According to Sani, the women in question were arrested during the 2024 Abuja Arba’een Symbolic Trek, an annual religious procession observed by Shiites to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
The IMN’s statement emphasised the sacredness of the Hijab in Islam, quoting the Qur’an to highlight its religious importance.
“Hijab is a commandment of Allah, the creator of earth and heaven. Allah (T) says in the Qur’an, ‘O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers that they should let down upon themselves their jalabib.’ (Qur’an: Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 59),” the statement read.
The group further asserted that the Hijab is not just a religious obligation but also a cultural right, and any attempt to violate it is deeply offensive to Muslims.
“Hijab is our religion, culture, and right, and the abuse of Hijab is more painful to us than the shelling of live ammunition on us. We will not take this abuse lightly,” the statement continued.
The IMN accused the police of deliberately disrespecting Islam by forcing the women to remove their Hijabs, despite being aware of its significance to Muslims.
“Verily, the leadership of the police is fully aware of the sanctity of Hijab to Muslims; they just decided to deliberately abuse our religion,” the group asserted.
In response to the incident, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria organized a series of protests across the country, calling on the police and other authorities to respect religious and cultural rights.
The protests took place in various cities, including Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Zaria, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, Katsina, Kebbi, and Niger, among others.
In Abuja, the protest began at Banex Juma’at Mosque immediately after Friday prayers and concluded at the popular Banex junction.
Similar demonstrations were held in other cities, with participants emphasizing that the Hijab is not exclusive to Shiite women but is a fundamental aspect of Islamic faith for all Muslim women.
