Hijab-wearing law graduate ‘should be rewarded for religious uprightness’

The League of Imams and Alfas in Nigeria has demanded an explanation over a law graduate who was denied her called to bar for wearing a hijab to the ceremony.

Amasa Firdaus, a University of Ilorin graduate, was denied access to the venue of the ceremony at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Jamiu Kewulere Bello, the south-west coordinator of the group, said the action was an abuse of Firdaus’ fundamental human rights.

Bello said, “rather than victimising the victim, she should have been rewarded for her religious uprightness despite her exposure as a lawyer”.

He asked the Council of Legal Education in Nigeria and the Law School to explain the rationale behind the occurrence.

Bello said members of the League of Imams and Alfas are already in discussion with the leadership of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and the Council of Ulammas in Nigeria to avoid a repeat of the situation.

“What happened to Amasa Firdaus is an abuse of her fundamental human rights as a citizen and as spelt out by the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

“We are already demanding explanations about this, both from the federal government and the authorities in charge of Law Schools”

“As religious leaders we don’t believe in violence, but in dialogue. Government should be willing to dialogue with us and let us know the rationale behind such an action.

“We are reaching to the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and the Council of Ulammas in Nigeria for this interface. When we come to this roundtable, we will be able to demand explanations and suggest a way to stop future occurrences.”