The Axum City District Court has summoned five schools to respond to claims that they barred Muslim students from attending classes while wearing hijabs. The complaint was filed by the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, which claims that 159 Muslim students were denied entry due to their religious attire.
In a preliminary ruling, the court suspended the directive that prohibited female Muslim students from wearing hijabs, highlighting concerns that such an action could lead to irreversible violations of their rights.
The court has scheduled a hearing for 24 January 2025, where the schools will be required to address these allegations. Muslim students in Axum have protested the ban, asserting that it infringes on their right to both education and religious freedom. The ban has particularly affected grade 12 students, with some missing the deadline for online registration for national exams as schools insisted they remove their hijabs for the process.
The Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council had earlier warned of “further peaceful measures in consultation with believers” if the issue was not resolved within three days. The council has also criticized the Tigray Education Bureau for its inability to address the matter effectively, beyond issuing statements.
This legal action is part of the ongoing efforts to protect the rights of Muslim students and uphold their constitutional freedoms.