‘I said what I said,’ Duale defends his ‘wear hijab or find another country’ remark
By Hilary KimuyuDefense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended his controversial remarks on the wearing of hijabs by Muslim girls and women in the country.
The CS was speaking at Sir Ali Muslim Club, Park Road, Nairobi, on Tuesday during the launch of the International Quran Competition.
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His statement spurred mixed reactions on social media, and in his response, Duale defended himself, saying he would not be cowed by varied opinions but would defend what is written in the Quran.
“I was addressing members of the Islamic faith who know for a fact that I said nothing but the truth. I still am unapologetically Muslim. And, on behalf of Islam – which is bigger than us all – I said what I said,” he tweeted.
He said anyone who feels women should not wear the hijab, including Muslim women, should find another country to live in.
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“It is a must for any Muslim woman in Kenya to wear a hijab or scarf. If they do not want, then look for another country to go to,” said Duale at the event attended by Muslim leaders, renowned Islamic scholars, and Imams.
And speaking in the Somali dialect, Duale stated: “Our girls will wear Hijab; what’s wrong? Isn’t it that way? For those who don’t wear Hijab and are Muslims, they should hear me. If you don’t wear Hijab and you want to be naked, look for other countries. Yes. Look for other countries.”
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This is not the first time the Defence CS has called for Muslim women to wear the hijab.
In 2019, he said the Ministry of Education should take disciplinary action against school headteachers who forced Muslim girls to remove the hijab.
He claimed that Muslim girls faced discrimination because of their religious dress and asked then-Education CS George Magoha to issue a directive to protect them.
According to Duale, the hijab is a highly valued dress code among Muslims.
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Many Muslim women in Kenya already wear the hijab, but some, particularly in urban areas, just wear a simple covering over their hair.
The Quran, Islam’s holy book, tells Muslim men and women to dress modestly.
Male modesty has been interpreted to cover the area from the navel to the knee.
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