Students and Muslim youth speakers have argued that the seizure of veils and discrimination of Muslim students by St. Therese’s is a widespread national matter.
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.
