A female Muslim student at Dire Dawa University has received a last warning letter written by the President of the University for failing to stop wearing Niqab (veil). She was asked to stop doing it during the first semester but she told them to give her time since she was in the middle of the final exam.
The University has adopted its Students code of conduct from its Haramaya counter part with little adjustments a year ago. Of the adjustments made the niqab case is the one. Old universities of the country do not forbid wearing neqab in their institutions. The student has been told to stop doing it till tomorrow (Thursday, May 08, 2008) , which other wise the president promised her for a more sever penalty. Read here the Letter from the President office - Dr. Wogayehu Bekele
What the president is doing is clear breach of the universal human right Ethiopia claims to respect and has included in its constitutions. The action is also against the rule and regulation of the university itself. If such action was to be taken, according to the university’s rule, it should have been by the Discipline committee or by the Dean of students. Muslims do not expect such action to be taken especial in Dire Dawa , where the Muslim community is over whelmingly dominant.
This uncalled-for provacation of the president of Dire Dawa university in the aftermath of the dismisal of three Muslims students from Mekelle univesity should be a call-up ring for Muslims to stand up in mass and demand for the respect of their civil and religious rights. If these happenings are to be left and Muslims are to receive them with negligence, then it is them to blame if tomorrow the worst happens. The measure taken by the president of Dire Dawa university can be taken as a good example for all university of the country. Our resolve was tested by Mekelle University when it sent home three Muslim students for possessing and reading Quran in its campuse. No individual or group has openly risen up so far to contest the measure. Dire Dawa has followed suit and my send home those who wish to dress them as per the prescription of their faith. If we are not to rise-up … then what would be of surprise if we are told tomorrow to abandon our declaration of the Faith - Shahada? In Ethiopian case and under the situation we are testifying, albiet bit by bit - this is not an impossible or unexpectable. Most of us thought such double standard on Muslims were the case of the past .. they are now creaping in back and being institutionalised. Who is to speak for sure these measures are not part of an effort to re-instate the policy of Yohannis? After all our time has a lot to share with this man who never hesitated to perscute Muslims until his last breath.
Muslims need to stand in the face of injustices of this type with firm determination and may not show any indifference in measures that deny them the right to education or their right to freely express their belief. No one is to give one’s right. It is a natural part of our being. We are not born as captive to others - we are born free and clean. Right is to be claimed back by whatever means if one is denied of his/her rights by others, be it by group or by an individual. Muslims all over the country and beyond need to stand for the cause such brave sister stands for - stand for respect for the religious rights of Muslims - even if it is to cost her dearly. Action … Action … Action! As we do so, Insha Allah, Allah will be with us.
Negashi