Sharia shrouds students
2002-01-14 22:02
Kano, Nigeria - The government in a mainly Muslim northern Nigerian state has made turbans obligatory for boys attending secondary schools, an official said on Monday.
The Zamfara State education commissioner, Ango Umar, said in an interview on the state-run Radio Zamfara that it was now mandatory for the students to wear turbans and caftans.
"Zamfara is a Sharia state and Sharia (Islamic code) should
manifest itself in all ramifications. This directive is in conformity with the Sharia legal system, which the state operates," Umar said.
Umar said that the state government has provided 34 000 turbans
to secondary schools across the state.
Female secondary school students will be provided with a
"hijab", a black dress that covers the entire body.
Zamfara formally introduced Sharia in January 2000. About a
dozen other northern states in Nigeria later followed suit.
Although Umar did not say if Christian students would be
exempted from applying the dress code, the state government has
always insisted that the Islamic code will not be imposed on
Christians. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA