The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiites, has condemned what it describes as the forceful removal of Hijabs from Muslim women by police officers in Abuja.
The IMN denounced the act as a grave violation of religious freedom and an abuse of cultural sensitivity.
In a statement issued by Maryam Sani on behalf of the Sisters Forum of the Islamic Movement, the group accused police officers of compelling Muslim women in detention to remove their hijabs, a religious headscarf. The IMN described this act as a serious offence, amounting to blasphemy.
“We will publicise this abuse to both local and international audiences and challenge it in court,” the statement read, expressing the group’s intent to seek legal redress.
The controversy erupted following the circulation of a video, lasting one minute and twenty-one seconds, showing police officers allegedly removing the Hijabs of detained Muslim women. The video, reportedly filmed within the premises of the FCT Police Command, went viral on social media after being shared in a WhatsApp group of the police community in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Sani, the detained women were arrested during the 2024 Abuja Arba’een Symbolic Trek, an annual Shiite religious event.
“Our attention has also been drawn to pictures of those arrested during the 2024 Abuja Arba’een Symbolic Trek, which were shown to news outlets on August 28, 2024, at the SARS Abbatoir. The pictures also displayed our Muslim sisters without Hijabs,” the statement continued.
The IMN highlighted the religious significance of the Hijab, citing 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 group emphasized that the Hijab is not only a religious obligation but also a cultural right. “The abuse of Hijab is more painful to us than the use of live ammunition against us. We consider the forceful removal of the Hijab an offense not just against those arrested, but against all Muslims and the Islamic faith.”
The IMN also criticized the police for what they perceive as a deliberate act of disrespect toward Islam. “The leadership of the police is fully aware of the sanctity of the Hijab to Muslims, yet they have chosen to disrespect our religion. We condemn this action and view it as blasphemy against Islam,” the statement added.
The group argued that even if the perpetrators are not Muslims, they should have learned to respect religious and cultural differences throughout their upbringing, education, and professional training.
In response to the incident, the Islamic Movement organised nationwide protests on Friday, urging police authorities to respect religious and cultural practices. The protests took place in various cities, including Abuja, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Zaria, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, Katsina, Kebbi, and Niger.
In Abuja, the protest began at the Banex Juma’at Mosque immediately following Friday prayers and concluded at the popular Banex junction. Similar demonstrations occurred in Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina, where participants reiterated that the Hijab is not exclusive to Shiite women but is a fundamental aspect of Muslim identity.
