Zaynab Yusuf (right) and Hoodo Imaan who were sacked for wearing Islamic dress

Hargeysa, Somaliland, November 11, 2006 (SL Times) – The Somaliland minister of Information Ahmed Haji Dahir had sacked last week two female employees for wearing Islamic dress to work.

Zaynab Yusuf, a secretary in the minister’s office and Hoodo Imaan, a computer operator lost their jobs at the ministry of Information after they refused to comply with a demand by the minister that they stop coming to work in Hijab, the obligatory Islamic dress that covers the head and the rest of the woman’s body with the exception of the face and hands.

While the two women regularly had the Hijab on, Hoodo also used the Nikab, a piece of clothing for covering the face that according to most Muslim scholars in the 4 different Islamic schools of thought is not obligatory.

The minister’s action has however provoked a tsunami of anger and condemnations from Somalilanders.

Mosque Imams at yesterday’s Juma’ [Friday] prayers accused president Rayale and his government of condoning actions violating the fundamental principles of the Sharia law.

Critics demanded the immediate removal from government of Ahmed Haji Dahir.

Source: Somaliland Times

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