The Axum town court in northern Ethiopia has issued arrest warrant against school officials who allegedly disregard its ruling, suspending a directive that banned female Muslim students from wearing hijabs in schools, APA can report on Wednesday.
The court ordered the town’s police to detain the officials, noting that they have intentionally violated a clear and legal order.
The court went on to say that the directive remains suspended until a resolution is issued, warning that failure to uphold the suspension will put moral and human rights violations against Muslim students at risk.
In the middle of January, the court suspended the directive prohibiting female Muslim students from wearing hijabs in schools, stating that it could result in “irreversible rights violations” against the affected students.
The ruling came after a complaint by the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council which claimed that the schools had prevented 159 Muslim students from entering schools due to their religious attire.
The court has ordered the Axum town police to apprehend and present the school officials before court on February 14, 2025.
Late last week Dilla university in southern Ethiopia imposed a ban on wearing the niqab, barring more than 40 female students from entering its campus.
MG/as/APA