ICC Notes: After claiming to be open to the possibility of banning hijabs because of suicide attacks, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his staff are reportedly stepping back from his statements. Nigerian newspapers are now reporting that Buhari never intended to ban the Muslim veil that women wear as a modesty measure. While Boko Haram ravages northern Nigeria with suicide attacks, Buhari looks to maintain the balance between security and religious freedom. Boko Haram is notorious for indoctrinating young girls and then using hijabs to conceal explosives then detonated in suicide assaults. 

1/1/16 Nigeria (AllAfrica) – The Presidency has denied speculations that the Buhari administration has banned Hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty.

Giving a clarification on the pronouncement of the President on Media Chat on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the speculations were unfounded, and that the Buhari administration would always respect the rights of Muslims to protect their modesty and allow religious freedom as it affects everyone.

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