Boko Haram: ECOWAS Wants Full Veil Banned For Muslim Women

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on members nations to ban the use of full-face veil, known as Hijjab for Muslim women in Africa to stem the use of female bombers by the Boko Haram terrorist group. The organization stressed that a ban would go a long way to prevent attacks by female suicide bombers who pretend to be true Muslims whereas they are terrorist or agent of the insurgents.

In a statement yesterday, ECOWAS said: “Certain dress codes, such as the full-face veil, make identification difficult and hinder police operations.”

Boko Haram has used girls as suicide bombers by hiding explosives in loose-fitting clothes.

According to the body, the summit allowed Heads of State and Government also to exchange views on peace and security matters, particularly the new cross-border threats in the ECOWAS region.

Excerpts from the statement by ECOWAS reads: “The Authority reaffirms the importance of peace, security and stability for the economic development of the ECOWAS region. It reiterates its commitment to the standards and principles underpinning the peace and security architecture as set out in the protocol relating to the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security, as well as the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance”.

“The Authority expresses deep concern over terrorism in the Sahel region and condemns in the strongest terms, the terrorist attack in Bamako on November 20, 2015, as well as the Boko Haram group’s recurrent terrorist acts in the Lake Chad Basin countries”.

“The Authority reaffirms its determination to relentlessly pursue the fight against terrorism and consequently underscores the need for a coordinated international struggle”.

“Similarly, the Heads of State and Government are of the view that certain dress codes, which make identification of the persons concerned difficult, may considerably hinder actions geared towards protecting people and properties. They, therefore, urge all Member States to take, in line with their national realities, appropriate measures to ban any dress code that may make it difficult to identify people.” [myad]