The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused three government-owned hospitals in Maiduguri, Borno State, of harassing Muslim women who wear Islamic garments such as the niqab.
The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, and titled “Maiduguri Hospitals Harassing Muslim Women – MURIC”, named the affected facilities as Maiduguri General Hospital, Umar Shehu Hospital, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
According to MURIC, security personnel at the gates of the hospitals have allegedly been ordering Muslim women to completely remove their veils before being allowed to enter the premises a practice the group described as “unnecessary, humiliating, and unconstitutional.”
“MURIC finds this absolutely unnecessary, superfluously stereotyping, and premeditatedly subjective. It is totally unacceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. It is an abridgement of Allah-given fundamental human rights of our women,” Akintola stated.
The group cited Section 34 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guaranteed the dignity and integrity of every individual.
MURIC argued that asking Muslim women to remove their head coverings in public amounted to “de-robing, stripping, and humiliating them,” added that such actions violated both local and international human rights laws.
The organization suggested that female security personnel should instead be assigned to screen women wearing Islamic garments at the gates, in line with both security requirements and religious sensitivities.
“The way out is to allow female security staff to screen Muslim women who wear Islamic garments. A special spot can be created near the gate where such screening can be done privately,” the statement said.
MURIC also expressed concern that the practice might discourage many Muslim women from seeking medical care or visiting relatives in the affected hospitals.
The group therefore called on Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to urgently investigate the allegations and intervene to prevent further incidents.
“We appeal to the state governor to investigate and intervene in this matter before it is too late,” Akintola urged.
The Muslim rights group warned that failure to address the issue could amount to deliberate gender discrimination, religious profiling, and female stigmatization.
