Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council Accuses Education Officials of Discriminating Against Muslim Female Students

The Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council has accused local education officials in Axum of barring 14 Muslim female students from taking the national 12th-grade examination due to restrictions on wearing the hijab. The Council's General Secretary, Haji Mohammod Kahsay, alleged that the students were not registered like other students, were not allowed to attend classes while wearing their hijabs, and were excluded from preparation and support ahead of the exam. In response, the Tigray Education Bureau rejected the allegations, stating that no Muslim student has been expelled from a testing center for wearing a hijab.

Key Takeaways:

• 14 Muslim female students were allegedly barred from taking the national 12th-grade examination due to restrictions on wearing the hijab.
• The students were not registered like other students, were not allowed to attend classes while wearing their hijabs, and were excluded from preparation and support ahead of the exam.
• The Tigray Education Bureau rejected the allegations, stating that no Muslim student has been expelled from a testing center for wearing a hijab.
• Over 36,000 students across the Tigray region began sitting for the national 12th-grade exams on Monday.
• The dispute began in late 2024, when Muslim students in Axum town challenged school directives banning the hijab, citing constitutional rights to education and religious freedom.
• The Axum District Court temporarily suspended the hijab ban on 14 January 2025, warning that the policy could cause 'irreversible rights violations.'
• The court closed the case on 27 February 2025, stating that it had 'no authority' to escalate the matter to a higher court and recommending it be resolved through 'mediation or administrative proceedings.'
• Thousands of protestors gathered in Mekelle on 21 January 2025, expressing dissatisfaction with the failure of local schools to comply with directives allowing students to wear religious attire.
• The Axum District Court issued an arrest warrant on 27 January 2025 for school officials accused of defying the suspension order.

Statistics:

• Over 36,000 students across the Tigray region began sitting for the national 12th-grade exams on Monday.
• 14 Muslim female students were allegedly barred from taking the national 12th-grade examination.
• The dispute began in late 2024 and continued until the Axum District Court suspended the hijab ban on 14 January 2025.
• Thousands of protestors gathered in Mekelle on 21 January 2025.
• The Axum District Court closed the case on 27 February 2025.

Sources:

• Haji Mohammod Kahsay, General Secretary of the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council
• Kiros Guesh (PhD), head of the Tigray Education Bureau
• Axum District Court ruling on 14 January 2025
• Axum District Court ruling on 27 February 2025
• Addis Standard article on the dispute