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Dress code for Muslim women, an obligation-Official

Accra, Feb. 17, GNA- Alhaji Mohammed Baba Alhassan, General Secretary, Coalition of Muslim Organizations, Ghana (COMOG) on Thursday said the dress code for Muslim women was a not an imposition but an obligation according to the Quran. "It is wrong to talk about dress code imposition, Islam is a way of life and therefore every practice that goes with it must be adhered to", he added.

Alhaji Alhassan made the comment at a press conference in Accra to react to some allegations on dress code and human rights abuses made by "Concerned Muslim Forum" a movement against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Forum, according to COMOG organized a demonstration in Accra and Kumasi against the Iranian government on issues bordering on unfair trials, executions and amputations in the name of Islam. "We will therefore take this opportunity to advise our brothers and sisters of the Forum and others on the need to be guided by the tenets of the Holy Quran on the importance and the strength in unity," Alhaji Alhassan added.

He noted that investigations conducted by COMOG showed that women, especially, played key roles in the Republic of Iran as against the purported, "Women are perpetually denied a voice to air their grievances and subjected to constant repression" by the movement. "In 2006, female employees in government ministries, department and agencies numbered 788,000 out of which 23.79 per cent were in senior management positions," he said.

Alhaji Alhassan noted that Iran had over the years, contributed to the socio-economic growth of the country and advised against anything that would rather sour the relationship. He noted that COMOG, as an umbrella Muslim organization would not allow any incident to mar the cordial diplomatic, cultural and economic relations between Ghana and Iran, adding, "the Foreign Ministry is there to investigate and resolve any problems across the country".