Nigerian church bans women’s traditional headwraps

August 30, 2012

A Catholic cathedral in Nigeria has announced that women will no longer be permitted to wear the traditional elaborate headwrap called the gele in the church.

Father Uche Obodoechina said that the gele will be barred from St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Nsukka because the large headgear presents “security challenges.” He said that large handbags will also be banned.

Reacting to raids on Christian churches, organized by the Boko Haram terrorist group, the cathedral has established security checkpoints, at which guards check for possible explosive devices. The new rules are intended to make it easier to detect bombs.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic church in Nigeria bans women from wearing traditional head wraps amid security fears (Daily Mail)