YOUR SISTERS NEED YOU NOW Below is the letter that MPAC sent to the DG of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in December of 2012- and a reminder 2 months later, following complaints of NIMC officials demanding removal of hijab for biometric identification purpose. It was even alleged that NIMC TV advert promotes this. Close to a year later, the NIMC DG has neither deemed it fit to acknowledge the receipt of the two letters (sent by courier and tracked as delivered) nor responded to them. This is the type of mindset we are dealing with in some of our self-important public servants that have no clue about what serving the public is about. Statements and actions like those reported by MPAC in yesterday’s newsletters are not just some cranks displaying their usual traits, these are senior public officials and diplomats maintained at tax-payers expense at a cost that is simply mind boggling! But to some extent, these tin gods carry on with impunity because we allow them to do so. The only way we can stop the seeming impunity is to hold them properly accountable. MPAC urges you to employ all means that are legitimate and in conformity with the law to do this. More so, Muslim organizations should get better organized in pre-emptive advocacy campaigns, even if that includes acquiring better/newer skills. Our advocacy must get better organized, well funded and well sustained to have any chance of success (by the will of Allah). You can help us amplify our voice in this and other campaigns by supporting and funding MPAC. Your donations to our campaigns will not make us richer, it will make us better in sha Allah. Thank you as you roll up the sleeves and join the jihad. ++++++++++++++++++ 27 December 2012 Mr.Chris Onyemenam The Director General/Chief Executive National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) 11 Sokode Crescent, Off Dalaba Street Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja Crescent, Off Dalaba Street Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja Dear Sir, LETTER TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THE USE OF HIJAB FOR ENROLMENT The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) wishes to express deeply felt appreciation to NIMC for the most valued work of the Commission to establish, operate and manage the National Identity Management System. We will like to request clarification on the Commission’s official policy on the use of hijab in photographs by female Muslims during the enrolment process. The hijab refers to the religious head covering worn by Muslim women. Like prayer, fasting, pilgrimage certain religious celebrations, dietary and clothing requirements are obligatory practices of the Muslim faith. Such religious expressions are protected by the Nigerian Constitution, which protects the free exercise of religion. Getting a substantial response from you, stating the official policy of the Commission on the dress code allowed for the photographs will help a lot of Muslims to easily fulfil their national duty of participating in the enrolment process. Although Islamic religious practices have similarities to elements of other religions, the details of procedure that define what is proper religious practice may differ. In the case of hijab, there are prescribed forms which make it easy to embrace a wide range of forms of hijab in different circumstances and avoid the mistakes of ostracizing or excluding people based on their religious dress code. Muslim Public Affairs Centre is an incorporated public service agency working for Muslim Defense, Muslim Empowerment and Promoting individual liberties, religious, civil and political rights of Nigerian Muslims. As an experienced and independent voice within the Nigerian Muslim community working for the good of the society, MPAC operates on the core Islamic values of justice, mercy, human dignity, freedom, sanctity of human life and equality for all. We look forward to your response to our inquiries. Thank you sir. Yours truly, Disu Kamor Executive ChairmanMuslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria. email: [email protected] websites: mpac-ng.org, mpac-convention.org
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 11:33:36 +0000
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