Muslim students in Axum, located in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, have protested a recent hijab ban at local schools, claiming it has barred them from attending classes and infringes on their constitutional rights to education and religious freedom.
The controversy began two weeks ago when schools in Axum started denying entry to students wearing hijabs. One anonymous student spoke out, stating that their request to wear hijabs that matched their uniforms was also rejected. “The schools are denying our right to education because we wear the hijab, which is required by our religion,” she said.
The Islamic Affairs Office in the Central Zone of Tigray has been working with the city’s Education Bureau to address the issue, which started two months ago. A letter sent by the office had initially allowed students to return to classes, but the situation worsened two weeks ago when the ban was reinstated.
In a letter issued on October 10, 2024, the Islamic Affairs Office urged schools to respect the religious rights of Muslim girls, underscoring that wearing the hijab is a religious obligation. The letter mentioned that the ban affects four secondary schools—Woree, Kindeya, Adebabay, and Messenado—impacting around 140 students, including grade 12 students who were denied registration for national exams.
Protests and Broader Implications
The protests in Axum are part of a broader trend in Ethiopia where Muslim students have faced similar challenges. In Addis Abeba, students were also suspended from schools for wearing niqabs, leading to strong condemnation from the Addis Abeba Islamic Affairs Supreme Council. The council labeled the actions as “irresponsible” and emphasized the need for legal justification for such measures. After public outcry, an agreement was reached allowing the students to return to school, but the controversy raised concerns about the impact of such policies on students’ education and social cohesion, according to reports from Addis Standard (2024).
Haji Mohammed Kahsay, Secretary of the Islamic Affairs Council in Tigray, condemned the ban, particularly its effect on grade 12 students. “Some students have been prevented from registering for national exams because they were not allowed to enter the school premises,” he said. He emphasized that the hijab is a significant religious and cultural symbol for Muslim women, and its denial violates their rights to religious freedom.
Haji Mohammed criticized the policy, calling it unconstitutional, as Ethiopia’s constitution guarantees religious freedom. He also accused school authorities of politicizing the issue and stressed the importance of educational institutions fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
Despite efforts to reach officials in Tigray for comment, no response was received. The protests in Axum reflect ongoing tensions surrounding religious freedoms and the right to education in Ethiopia.