KENYA: Coastal church leaders reject Muslim scarves at schools

By Fredrick Nzwili, October 28, 2009 [Ecumenical News International, Nairobi] Churches have the right to determine dress code in their own schools, Christian leaders in Kenya's coastal region have said after their rulings on the wearing of the hijab, a headscarf often worn by Muslim women, were questioned by local followers of Islam.

The comments by the church leaders follow protests by a prominent Islamic leader after Muslim parents said they would take their children out of church-owned schools to protest at the rejection of hijabs by principals at Christian-run institutions.

"The Muslims are now forcing the issue of the hijab," Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa told Ecumenical News International on October 27. "As sponsors of the schools we are saying no. We must be consulted."

Christian missionaries started schools in Kenya's coastal region in the 19th century. Schools have admitted all children, including those from the Islamic faith, which has a strong following in the coastal area.

The two faiths had co-existed well, said Kalu, until July 14, when the top official in Kenya's education ministry, Professor Karega Mutahi, issued a circular, without consulting the churches, ordering Christian schools to allow Muslim pupils to wear the hijab to classes.

"The permanent secretary has been issuing statements without consulting us. This has made the relations between us [Muslims and Christians] very sour," said Kalu. "We are wondering why he is ignoring us. He has angered us."

In August, Kenya's Roman Catholic bishops instructed head teachers to keep their church's dress code, and called for consultation. The Catholic leaders said the church had its own religious traditions, discipline and a philosophy of education cherished and upheld in its schools.

"We are pressuring the government to withdraw the circular," said the Rev. John Correa, the episcopal vicar of Mombasa's Catholic archdiocese on October 27. "I doubt any child will be withdrawn. We have not seen any up to now."

Sheikh Mohammed Dor, a leader of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya and a nominated member of parliament, ordered the withdrawal of Muslim pupils, starting on October 26, to protest at the churches' rejections of the hijab. He said the churches' actions were provocative and he warned of nationwide Muslim anger.

"We shall not be intimidated any more and the government should stop acting as a referee between us and the Catholics who are pushing us to the wall," the Daily Nation newspaper quoted Dor as saying on October 23.

Dor urged Muslims to reject all schools which refused to allow Islamic pupils to wear the hijab. And he warned that followers of Islam could soon declare a "fatwa," a strongly held faith opinion, over school dress.

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