Muslim Group Petitions CHRAJ Over Imposition Of Christian Worship On Students

The Network of Muslim Youth Organizations in Ghana has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice over what it terms the forceful subjection of Muslims to Christian worship in the nation�s first and second cycle schools. According to the group, the move is clear contradiction of the provisions of the Ghana Education Act as well as an infringement of the fundamental Human Rights of the Muslim Students. It is therefore petitioning CHRAJ to put to an end what it terms �an unpardonable practice.� The Network�s Deputy Secretary in Charge of Media and Research, Adnan Adams Mohammed said �when you go to these mission schools, they do not allow Muslim students to worship or pray in the school�. He cited an instance where he said �Wesley Girls Secondary School went ahead to punish Muslim students in a particular House when a veil was seen in that particular House�. �We want CHRAJ to call these institutions to order and make sure Human Rights of people are not being infringed upon,� Mr. Mohammed pointed out. In a related development, a group calling itself Innovative Teachers has also petitioned CHRAJ over what it claims the use of coercion by authorities of missions schools to shove their faith down the throats of staff and students of their school. The group�s president, Stephen Desu, said CHRAJ must take steps to purge public schools of the gross disregard for Human Rights. �Before we left school at the end of this academic year, I had a heated argument with my headmistress forcing me to attend worship� and we don�t think that this matter is right,� Mr. Desu recounted. He said what Innovative Teachers wants done is for �the laws of Ghana are upheld in our schools� insisting that �any school authority who do not comply with the directive by CHRAJ will be cited for contempt of court.�