This came on the heels of bitter protest and complaints from the masses concerning seizures of veils of students, despite veiling being an obligatory religious practice for every female Muslim.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) called the act ‘disturbing news’. It released a press statement noting that its staffs have engaged the school administration and Catholic Education Secretariat on the issue, adding that the matter has been solved.
However, Eminent Muslim youth speaker and former vice president of St. Augustine’s Islamic Club and Head of Education and Students’ Affairs of the Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth (FAGAMY), Sarjo Jammeh said religious intolerance and discrimination is a national issue.
“Religious intolerance is not only limited to St. Therese’s Upper Basic School. However, this is a national issue. There are many schools that are not allowing Muslim students to wear their veils, which is an obligation on them in Islam “It is a sin upon a woman not to cover her hair in Islam,” he said.
“I have received many complaints from students in different schools. Muslim girls have every right to practice their religious beliefs as mentioned in the Constitution of The Gambia (Every person shall be entitled to enjoy, practice, profess, maintain and promote, any culture, language, tradition or religion… It also states freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice,)” he pointed out.
“Yet, these learning institutions are not showing tolerance to our future leaders, which is a threat to our peace,” he also said.
He called on Government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to allow Muslim students to practice their religious obligations.
MoBSE stated that: “During this meeting, it was established that the school prefects (of St. Therese’s) were the ones unilaterally carrying out this act. However, the issue has been addressed.”
A former student of St Therese Lower and Upper Basic School, who spoke anonymously, debunked the claim, saying the act has been a longstanding issue at school, claiming that the school administration has been behind them.
At St. Joseph, a student told this reporter that students are neither allowed to put on veils, nor to pray on the school ground.
“It is even a crime to have a veil in your bag. When they search your bag and see it, you are in big trouble,” she said.
“We remain focused and resolute. This injustice will end, In Shaa Allah,” Alhaji Abubakar Darbo, who first brought up the veil issue at St. Therese’s stated.
