The Presidency has denied insinuations and rumors that the Buhari administration may ban Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty.

Giving a clarification on the pronouncement of the President on Media Chat on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said the speculations are unfounded, and that the Buhari administration would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom as it affects everyone.

Mr Shehu, while admitting that the Hijab is being abused by terrorists to carry out suicide attacks on innocent people, which violates the teachings of Islam, said the President would not take any decision on the issue without due consultation with all stakeholders.

“Everything will be done to balance national security requirements with the rights and obligations of citizens under their religions as protected by the constitution,” the statement said.

According to him, the increasing abuse of the Hijab by the terrorists to perpetrate criminal mass murder and other atrocities is a reality, and that the government would address the security challenge in consultations with Muslim leaders with a view to finding a workable solution.

The President had told a team of journalists during his maiden Presidential Media Chat that “we will have to ban the Hijab if this (the suicide attacks) continues” in the North-East.

•Text courtesy of Channels TV. Photo shows Muslim women wearing hijab.