#JUSTICEFORFIRDAUZ
A Muslim lady, Amasa Firdaus, who graduated from University of Ilorin and Nigerian Law School Abuja campus was barred from entering the ICC for the Call to Bar because she refused to remove her Hijab in defiance to the archaic and repugnant tradition and she was not called to Bar either.
This is the right time to put this archaic tradition viz a vis the Fundamental Human Rights to test. Justice must be seen to be done. This is a clarion call to all concerned stakeholders to rise to action and lend their supports for this movement. Hijab is not a threat to legal profession, Hijab is a fundamental right. How can we pretend to recognize Freedom of Religion as a right and take it away way with the other hand?
Section 38 of the constitution provides for right to freedom of religion as follows:
. (1) Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, PRACTICE and OBSERVANCE. (emphasis mine)
Assuming but not conceding that she was not discriminated against, insisting she removed her Hijab in order to gain entrance to the Hall which ultimately stopped her from being admitted to Bar is a clear infraction on her right to freedom of religion as provided under the above section and remedy can be sought in a court of law. Also, there is a difference between law and tradition, with my little knowledge of law, I am confident to say that there is no LAW that clearly provides that during call to bar, women cannot cover their head. It is rather a practice or a tradition which should have outlived its usefulness.
If we all Muslims cannot stand for the truth to demand for Justice for Firdaus, Allah will ask us on the D-day
#JUSTICEFORFIRDAUZ
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