Shari’a Dress Codes Imposed
on Christian Schoolgirls and Nurses
Kano State Government Also
Closing Christian Schools
In Kano State, all girls – including Christians – attending state run schools are to be compelled to wear the Islamic headscarf. Meanwhile in Azare, Bauchi State, 12 nurses have been sacked for non-compliance with a dress code based on Islamic law (shari’a). On Friday 29 August the government of Kano State issued a directive that all girls attending schools run by the State Government should wear the Islamic headscarf, or hijab as it is known. This directive applies to all girls whether they are Muslim or not. The directive does not apply to schools run by Nigeria’s Federal Government or to private schools. However since most private Christian schools in Kano have recently been forced to close, Christians are left with little choice. The schools were closed on the grounds that they do not meet required state standards; these standards include employing imams to instruct in Islam. Unlike the previous governor of Kano State, present governor Ibrahim Shekarau has made clear his intention to apply shari’a more vigorously. Whilst making a stopover at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, the president of Sudan, Omar Al-Bashir, pledged any necessary support for the governor to fulfil this aim, so that all the other northern Nigerian states would follow Kano’s example. Neighbouring Bauchi State has recently seen the sacking of 12 Christian nurses who refused to wear new uniforms designed to comply with a shari’a based dress code. The Christian Fellowship pleaded with the Nursing Service Dept of the Federal Medical Centre in Azare to let them carry on wearing the traditional nurse’s uniform, but they were told it revealed too much of their legs. Nigeria has a population of over 120 million, which is evenly divided between Christians, who live mainly in the South and Muslims who predominate in the northern states. Twelve of these northern states (out of Nigeria’s 36) have adopted full shari’a law since 1999. However in the wake of the furore surrounding the highly publicised case of Amina Lawal many Muslims are also beginning to wonder if shari’a really brings justice. Amina Lawal had been condemned to death by stoning for adultery, but has now been acquitted. PRAY * Pray that Nigerian Christians will react with Christ-like love and wisdom, even when they are subject to such blatant discrimination. * Pray against the continued encroaching of shari’a into northern Nigerian Christians’ everyday lives and that they will not be forced to live as if they were Muslims. BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE The Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides our supporters with short urgent news briefs and prayer requests for suffering Christians around the world. Please do share these news items with your Christian friends and churches. All news items are available on our website in a more colourful user-friendly presentation format which you can access, print and pass on. If you are not already receiving these news briefs directly from the Barnabas Fund and would like to, please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and details of the church you attend. The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK, Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030, E-mail info@barnabasfund.org Web www.barnabasfund.org