Group accuses INEC of disenfranchising S/West Muslim women

A Muslim activist group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disallowing Muslim women in the South West of the country from registering as voters.

MURIC, in a statement yesterday, said overzealousness on the part of some ad hoc staff of INEC may deny thousands of Muslim women their right to vote in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

The human rights organization alleged that women in hijab were being disenfranchised right from the Permanent Voter Card Registration centres. 

Prof Ishaq Akintola, chairman of the group, who signed the statement said: “Muslim women are being asked to remove their hijab before capturing can take place. Some are asked to draw back the hijab from their faces to expose their ears. Of course, the whole world knows that it is a taboo for Muslim women in hijab to expose their hair or ears. The Muslim women who refused to remove their hijab or to expose their ears are being turned back without being registered. This is unacceptable.

“It is cultural profiling. We are going to use every legitimate means to resist this aggression against Islam. We smell a rat. Religious fanatics have infested INEC’s ad hoc staff and their mission is to frustrate prospective Muslim voters. They want to reduce Muslim voting power in the sub-region.”  

Akintola said INEC ad hoc staff “who commit this atrocity” claimed that they were following instructions from their head office, it “is an old trick and a common line of argument.”

He added; “It suggests conspiracy. It means anti-Muslim elements have taken over in INEC head offices in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Oshogbo, Ondo and Akure (capitals of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states). This abuse is widespread particularly in Lagos State but INEC may want to focus its attention on its office at Arigbanla Road, Orile-Agege LCDA, Iyana Ipaja, very close to NYSC camp.

 “Worse still, Muslims who are coerced into agreeing to remove their hijab during capture will forever face the ignominy of being requested to remove their hijab each time they attempt to use their PVCs as means of identification. Why should Muslims be turned into dregs of the society? Why should we be made to face perpetual embarrassment? Is it not better to be free men in our graves than live as puppets and slaves?” Akintola noted.