MURIC condemns nursing schools for oppressing Muslim students, threatens legal action, protests

I In a strongly worded statement released on December 16, 2024, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has decried the alleged oppression of Muslim nursing students in Nigerian medical institutions, particularly targeting the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. The group claims that discriminatory policies are infringing on the religious rights of Muslim students and has signaled potential legal action and peaceful demonstrations in response.

Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, highlighted numerous complaints received regarding the treatment of Muslim nursing students. “Our headquarters have been inundated with letters, emails, phone calls, and text messages containing bitter complaints on how Muslim student nurses are being treated in some medical colleges in Nigeria. The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has been fingered as the worst culprit.”

The grievances center on dress code policies that allegedly violate religious freedoms. According to Professor Akintola, Muslim students are barred from wearing trousers, a policy which contradicts guidelines from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). He emphasized: “The action of the nursing school authorities who disallow female Muslim nursing students from wearing trousers is unlawful, illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional.”

Akintola further criticized the enforcement of short skirts and the prohibition of hijabs, noting that “forcing female Muslim students to wear attire against their faith constitutes religious persecution punishable under the law.” He cited Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and warned that policies inconsistent with the Constitution are null and void.

In addition, Akintola condemned the scheduling of lectures during Friday Jumu‘ah prayers, calling it “high-handedness and intolerance of the highest order.” He also alleged that some nursing students have been coerced into abandoning their faith or dropping out of school due to frustration.

MURIC urged the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to intervene immediately, warning that failure to act could lead to nationwide protests or legal battles. “There will be no retreat, no surrender, until we liberate our daughters,” Akintola declared, adding that “the law is on our side, but above all, Allah is with us.”

The organization’s statement underscores growing tensions over religious freedoms in educational institutions and calls for immediate reforms to ensure equitable treatment of all students.