Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday, December 20 sought to clarify his statement after sparking controversy over the dress code of Muslim women in Kenya.
Duale noted that his statement was taken out of context after Kenyans on social media blasted the Cabinet Secretary for threatening school teachers.
In a statement to the press, Duale stated that her remarks at a conference were misrepresented in the media to make it appear that she wanted to force women to wear the hijab.
He said that Muslim women would be allowed to wear the hijab without fear of the society and the government.
Muslim women wearing hijab at a past event in Mombasa County.
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“As a member of a community and religion that has faced the worst forms of persecution around the world, I will not be intimidated by the biases and misrepresentations that have chosen to engage in the media.
“I am still unapologetically Muslim. And, in the name of Islam, which is greater than all of us. I said what I said,” he declared.
Duale also dismissed calls for an apology, saying he had been misquoted by people who had fueled the decline in interest in the issue.
Also, CS shared a video of his comments to give context to his remarks.
He also stated that Muslims have been stereotyped over the years, which is why he emphasized the need for unity to fight extremism.
“Religious hypocrisy has long been the cause of extremism, and true Muslim believers have been stereotyped, singled out, and in worse cases killed.
“Men and women who hide their hidden agendas in kanzus and hijabs should be called out for who they are; charlatans!” he stated
Speaking at the launch of Sir Ali Muslim Club’s International Quran Competition, Duale warned teachers to refrain from forcing Muslim girls to remove their hijab during school hours.
“It is essential for any Muslim woman in Kenya to wear a hijab or headscarf. If they don’t want to, find another country to go to,” confirmed Duale.
This statement caused quite an uproar among Kenyans on social media, and the Defense Cabinet Secretary was asked to apologise.
“Trying to be the Grand Mufti is a policy we don’t need. Religious and ethnic mobilizations have no place in the UDA,” said David Ndii, President of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) of the Executive Office of the President.
However, civil groups such as Amnesty Kenya came to his aid after verifying the video circulating on social media, calling on various publications to retract their statements.
File photo of economist David Ndii
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