The Axum District Court in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has ordered police to detain school officials accused of defying its ruling suspending a ban on hijabs for Muslim students. The case has ignited protests over religious freedom and student rights.
The Axum District Court for Ethiopia’s Tigray region has issued a directive for local police to detain school officials accused of disregarding its earlier decision suspending a policy that prohibited female Muslim students from wearing hijabs in schools. The court cited their actions as a deliberate violation of its authority and warned of potential rights violations.
In a warrant dated January 27, 2025, the court named the officials as defendants and accused them of undermining legal orders. Referring to Article 156(1) of the Civil Code, the court stressed that individuals who fail to comply with court orders face criminal accountability. It reiterated that the suspension of the school directive remains in effect until further notice.
The controversy stems from a January 14 ruling where the court temporarily halted the hijab ban, citing potential irreparable harm to the rights of Muslim students. The case was initiated by the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, which argued that the ban violated students’ constitutional rights to religious expression and education.
The issue has sparked widespread protests, with thousands of Muslims gathering in Mekelle on January 21 to condemn the schools’ refusal to comply with the ruling. Protesters called for respect for the court’s decision and the Tigray Regional Education Bureau’s directives allowing hijabs in classrooms.
The court has instructed Axum police to ensure the accused school officials appear in court by February 14, 2025, as the matter continues to escalate.