Borkena
Toronto – The Tigray region of Ethiopia has been going through a political and security crisis after the end of the devastating two years war in November 2022.
Now religion involving Islam appears to be emerging as another layer of tension in the region – the part of Ethiopia which hosted the First Hejira in the 7th century.
There have been reports for months now that Muslim students in the ancient city of Axum were banned from wearing hijabs. It has been making headlines in Ethiopian outlets for several days now. And students have been appealing for authorities to end the illegal ban.
Five high schools in Aksum – Worei, Aksum, Abraha Atsebeha, Menelik I and Kendeya high schools – in the city have been reportedly banning the use of hijabs in school grounds.
On Tuesday, students from five high schools in Axum city took to the street to protest the ban on Hijab in school premises. Protestors condemned the arrest of Muslim students because they resisted the ban.
“Wearing hijab should not hinder female Muslim students from anything,” BBC Amharic quoted Amira Mustafa, who attended the protest in Mekelle, as saying.
She said the ban has created pressure on the social and religious lives of Muslim students. “It compromises our self confidence. Wearing Hijab is something the religion makes us practice and we have been doing it since childhood. When it is said that wearing hijab is not allowed in school, how can a Muslim student attend class?” she added.
Other students who attended the protest have shared similar views.
Last month, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Council criticized the education bureau in Axum for banning hijab in schools.
There is no precedent in recent history of Ethiopia whereby female Muslim students were banned wearing hijab in educational institutions.
There are no legal restrictions in the country either. It is unclear why authorities in the education office wanted to introduce it in high schools.
The protestors headed to the office of the Interim President of the region, Getachew Reda. He has reportedly apologized that the issue was not addressed.
The interim president vowed to resolve the issue. He is quoted as saying that “solution is not one that comes from the above [authorities]. It is better to do it through consultation with the people…”
Other sources cited him as saying that “external advocacy is not necessary. The issue is something we can resolve on our own. Our unity and affection should not be tampered with.”
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