Barely two months after finding their dream job at a Lagos governmental hospital, two Muslim nurses were dismissed from work for refusing to take off hijab after the hospital authorities told them to choose between job and their Islamic headscarf.
“At the commencement of the one month orientation, I was told to remove my hijab,” Fasilat Olayinka Lawal, one of the two nurses who were fired from the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL), told OnIslam.net.
“I begged them to allow me and that I have a circular from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria which I presented to the head of Nursing Department, hence I was allowed to do the orientation wearing hijab.
”The story of Lawal and Sekinat Sanusi dates back to February when the two Muslim nurses did their medical examination to join NOHIL staff.
Asked to remove hijab, Lewal said, “I responded by telling (them) that I know other federal hospitals that allow hijab and I do not expect Igbobi to be an exception.
”“After that day, I made contact with colleagues in University College Hospital Ibadan (UCH) and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife (OAUTHC) and I was made to realize that there is a circular to that effect which they promised to get on my behalf and this raised my hope and gave me the courage to pick up my letter of appointment when I was called.
”The circular, cited by OnIslam.net correspondent, dates back to 11th February, 2002 and signed by the council's then Secretary General & Registrar, P.N. Ndatsu, said “female nurses should wear either a Nurse cap or a shoulder-length hijab.
”Receiving the circular, she forwarded it to the nursing admin office for orientation.Argument over hijab resurfaced again on March 23, Lawal said, when she accompanied her nursing dress with a shoulder-length hijab and was told she was “improperly dressed as I was using hijab and not a nurse cap.
”“On March 31, I was told to leave the ward as I was still wearing a hijab,” she added.Later on April, she was stopped from work and prevented from signing attendance register, a similar decision taken against Sanusi.
Legal Advice
The nurses’ case developed further in April when a disciplinary committee asked them to remove hijab and setting 15th April date to appear before the panel.
“We immediately sought a legal advice since we were determined not to remove our hijab,” Lawal told OnIslam.net.“[We] decided to proceed to court to stop any disciplinary actions taken against us and also seek redress with the court of law on the violation of our fundamental human rights and be allowed to work and wear our hijabs without let or hindrance as permitted by N&MCN, the only body permitted by law to regulate the nursing profession in Nigeria,” she narrated.
Lawal said despite the court papers served on the authorities, they were still prevented from resuming work, promoting their attorney to write the authorities on April 17 warning them of the consequences of their actions.
The hospital authorities were not moved and on 23 April, giving the two women a memo each to appear before the hospital management board.
“We met with the board and was told that by not removing our hijab we have committed an act of insubordination and disobedience which is punishable by the law of public service,” he said.
“We were asked if we were ready to retrace our steps by removing our hijab and we responded that we cannot remove our hijab and more so the matter is in court and we cannot take further steps without informing our lawyer.
Later that day, we were issued a letter of termination of service.
”In a swift reaction to the sacking, the medical director of the hospital Dr O. O. Odunibi said both women were not sacked because of hijab but for “insubordination.
”“The newly employed two nurses had their appointments terminated for insubordination and not for wearing hijab,” the medical director reacted in a text message to OnIslam.net on Sunday.
“If you come to the hospital you will see many members of staff in hijab. Case is incourt at their instance, so (I) can't discuss further.
”Efforts to speak to the chairperson of the NOHIL chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Mrs Agunloye, were turned down as she refused to comment on the incident.
“I cannot comment on it. Please direct your questions to the public relations officer of NOHIL,” Agunloye snapped, angrily dropping the call.
Muslim Anger
A leading Nigerian Islamic organization has blasted the decision of NOHIL hospital to dismiss the two Muslim nurses for donning Islamic headscarf, or hijab, expressing deep concerns over the increase of the level of discrimination in the country.
“By its latest action, NOHIL and the hospital management continue to show aggression against the victims and unrestrained and unaccountable hostility towards the Islamic faith,” MPAC Executive Director Disu Kamor said in a strong-worded statement to the media.
The body also condemned the hospital’s resort to self-help despite a court order that status quo be maintained.The statement added:
“The sisters will continue to demand justice, and the resolve of the Muslim community to stand with them is only strengthened by this latest act of aggression. Had these sisters continue to seek justice by all lawful means, MPAC honors them and their empowering stance.
“The decision to sack victims of discrimination is not only oppressive towards the victims, it is another stain on the history of NOHIL. Tyranny of employers, public and private, highlights the need for our lawmakers to do the right things and make laws that will criminalize discrimination on the basis of religions.
”The body encouraged Muslims in such situation elsewhere to report and taker lawful actions “against any employer that is forcing them to have to choose betweentheir religion and work.”MPAC urged all Muslim institutions and individuals to “lend their prayers and supports to these latest victims of discrimination against religion.
”Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol.The issue of hijab has become controversial in Nigeria's southwest region where Muslims accuse public institutions of denying Muslim women/girls the right to wear hijab, as allowed by the constitution.
At least three court cases have been instituted at different instances, although a court ruling allowing hijab in public institution does exist.
A few years ago, Lagos authorities have banned the wearing of hijab at schools. The Muslim outfit is also outlawed in most south-western states.Muslims have sued the Lagos governmenton allowing Muslim students to wear the hijab at schools.
In May 2013, Lagos government officially applied for an out-of-court settlement on the wearing of hijab at public schools, ending the problem.Muslim leaders say that banning the headscarf violates the religious rights of Muslim students as spelt out in the Constitution.
Source:Onislam.net
“At the commencement of the one month orientation, I was told to remove my hijab,” Fasilat Olayinka Lawal, one of the two nurses who were fired from the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL), told OnIslam.net.
“I begged them to allow me and that I have a circular from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria which I presented to the head of Nursing Department, hence I was allowed to do the orientation wearing hijab.
”The story of Lawal and Sekinat Sanusi dates back to February when the two Muslim nurses did their medical examination to join NOHIL staff.
Asked to remove hijab, Lewal said, “I responded by telling (them) that I know other federal hospitals that allow hijab and I do not expect Igbobi to be an exception.
”“After that day, I made contact with colleagues in University College Hospital Ibadan (UCH) and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife (OAUTHC) and I was made to realize that there is a circular to that effect which they promised to get on my behalf and this raised my hope and gave me the courage to pick up my letter of appointment when I was called.
”The circular, cited by OnIslam.net correspondent, dates back to 11th February, 2002 and signed by the council's then Secretary General & Registrar, P.N. Ndatsu, said “female nurses should wear either a Nurse cap or a shoulder-length hijab.
”Receiving the circular, she forwarded it to the nursing admin office for orientation.Argument over hijab resurfaced again on March 23, Lawal said, when she accompanied her nursing dress with a shoulder-length hijab and was told she was “improperly dressed as I was using hijab and not a nurse cap.
”“On March 31, I was told to leave the ward as I was still wearing a hijab,” she added.Later on April, she was stopped from work and prevented from signing attendance register, a similar decision taken against Sanusi.
Legal Advice
The nurses’ case developed further in April when a disciplinary committee asked them to remove hijab and setting 15th April date to appear before the panel.
“We immediately sought a legal advice since we were determined not to remove our hijab,” Lawal told OnIslam.net.“[We] decided to proceed to court to stop any disciplinary actions taken against us and also seek redress with the court of law on the violation of our fundamental human rights and be allowed to work and wear our hijabs without let or hindrance as permitted by N&MCN, the only body permitted by law to regulate the nursing profession in Nigeria,” she narrated.
Lawal said despite the court papers served on the authorities, they were still prevented from resuming work, promoting their attorney to write the authorities on April 17 warning them of the consequences of their actions.
The hospital authorities were not moved and on 23 April, giving the two women a memo each to appear before the hospital management board.
“We met with the board and was told that by not removing our hijab we have committed an act of insubordination and disobedience which is punishable by the law of public service,” he said.
“We were asked if we were ready to retrace our steps by removing our hijab and we responded that we cannot remove our hijab and more so the matter is in court and we cannot take further steps without informing our lawyer.
Later that day, we were issued a letter of termination of service.
”In a swift reaction to the sacking, the medical director of the hospital Dr O. O. Odunibi said both women were not sacked because of hijab but for “insubordination.
”“The newly employed two nurses had their appointments terminated for insubordination and not for wearing hijab,” the medical director reacted in a text message to OnIslam.net on Sunday.
“If you come to the hospital you will see many members of staff in hijab. Case is incourt at their instance, so (I) can't discuss further.
”Efforts to speak to the chairperson of the NOHIL chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Mrs Agunloye, were turned down as she refused to comment on the incident.
“I cannot comment on it. Please direct your questions to the public relations officer of NOHIL,” Agunloye snapped, angrily dropping the call.
Muslim Anger
A leading Nigerian Islamic organization has blasted the decision of NOHIL hospital to dismiss the two Muslim nurses for donning Islamic headscarf, or hijab, expressing deep concerns over the increase of the level of discrimination in the country.
“By its latest action, NOHIL and the hospital management continue to show aggression against the victims and unrestrained and unaccountable hostility towards the Islamic faith,” MPAC Executive Director Disu Kamor said in a strong-worded statement to the media.
The body also condemned the hospital’s resort to self-help despite a court order that status quo be maintained.The statement added:
“The sisters will continue to demand justice, and the resolve of the Muslim community to stand with them is only strengthened by this latest act of aggression. Had these sisters continue to seek justice by all lawful means, MPAC honors them and their empowering stance.
“The decision to sack victims of discrimination is not only oppressive towards the victims, it is another stain on the history of NOHIL. Tyranny of employers, public and private, highlights the need for our lawmakers to do the right things and make laws that will criminalize discrimination on the basis of religions.
”The body encouraged Muslims in such situation elsewhere to report and taker lawful actions “against any employer that is forcing them to have to choose betweentheir religion and work.”MPAC urged all Muslim institutions and individuals to “lend their prayers and supports to these latest victims of discrimination against religion.
”Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol.The issue of hijab has become controversial in Nigeria's southwest region where Muslims accuse public institutions of denying Muslim women/girls the right to wear hijab, as allowed by the constitution.
At least three court cases have been instituted at different instances, although a court ruling allowing hijab in public institution does exist.
A few years ago, Lagos authorities have banned the wearing of hijab at schools. The Muslim outfit is also outlawed in most south-western states.Muslims have sued the Lagos governmenton allowing Muslim students to wear the hijab at schools.
In May 2013, Lagos government officially applied for an out-of-court settlement on the wearing of hijab at public schools, ending the problem.Muslim leaders say that banning the headscarf violates the religious rights of Muslim students as spelt out in the Constitution.
Source:Onislam.net
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