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Tag: Hijab

  • BREAKING: Muslims protest as reps postpones hearing on Hijab saga indefinitely

    The House of Representatives joint committee on Justice and Judiciary has adjourned its public hearing on the hijab controversy between the Nigerian Law School and a law school graduate, Miss. Firdaus Amasa, due to a court injunction.

    This decision by the lawmaker according to witnesses outraged the Muslim faithful at the hearing as a protest broke out; spearheaded by the president of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ishaq Akintola.Akintola said his organization will resist any attempt to stop hijabs in Law School as an injury to one of them is an injury to all Muslims in the country.

    It was learnt that hundreds of Muslims who stormed the green chamber on Wednesday, were again disappointed that the public hearing scheduled to hold has been postponed indefinitely.

    Among others who joined the protest is the President Muslim Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MMPAN) Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun.

    One of the anxious members of one of the groups that went from Lagos for the hearing said many were surprised that they had travelled long distance to attend the postponed hearing.

    He said, “As at 10.30am, the public hearing did not commence as participants were only seated inside room 236, New Wing, Federal House of Representatives, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

    “The cancellation announcement was made few minutes past 11 o’clock.”

    He said that the postponement may be as a result of a ruling of Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, 28th February.

    He said, “The Justice had ordered that the public hearing be suspended pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

    The source hinted that the two clerks of the public hearing joint committee, Mr. Idris Mora and Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana confirmed the postponement.

    He quoted Mora as follows, “There is a court order served on the National Assembly restraining us. Nevertheless, those who are already around will be informed.

    He added that Ogunlana said, “Yes, court order.”

  • Hijab controversy: Court restrains Reps from holding public hearing

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has restrained the House of Representatives from conducting a planned public hearing on the hijab controversy between the Nigerian Law School and Ms Firdrusa Abdulsalam.

    Justice Anwuli Chikere gave the order on Wednesday in her ruling on an application filed by a coalition of legal practitioners seeking to stop the public hearing.

    The judge ordered that the public hearing be put on hold, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Chikere, in her ruling, said the plaintiffs, who are legal practitioners, have a right to bring the action since the decision of the House of Representatives would affect them.

    She adjourned the matter until April 24 for hearing of the substantive suit.

    It will be recalled that Abdulsalam, a law graduate, was on December 13, 2017 not called to the Nigerian Bar on the grounds that she wore a hijab to the Call to Bar ceremony.

    The matter was taken to the House of Representatives and a public hearing was fixed in respect of the matter on February 6.

    The lawyers, under the aegis of Coalition of Lawyers for the Preservation of Legal Practitioners’ Ethics, then filed a suit asking the court to stop the House of Representatives from conducting the hearing.

    Their counsel, Mr. Sunday Akanni, told the court that the lawyers had even undertaken that they would pay damages to the House of Representatives in case their application was found to be frivolous.

    He said they were seeking the interpretation of sections 33 to 45 of the 1999 Constitution as well as that of Section 88.

    “We brought the House of Representatives to court because of the public hearing they scheduled to hold February 6.

    “Our contention is very simple, the public hearing notice they sent is in respect of a lady called Abdulsalam Firdrusa, who was not called to the bar on December 13, 2017, because she was wearing Hijab.

    “They say the public hearing is pursuant to Section 45 of the Constitution, but we are saying it has to do with violation of rights and it is the court that can look into such matters.

    “It is not for the House of Representatives to conduct a public hearing. Sections 88 and 89 give power to the House of Representatives to conduct public hearing, but sections 33 to 45 is what we call fundamental rights.

    “If that right is breached, where are you supposed to go, public hearing or court?”

  • MURIC demands review of Nigerian Law School dress code

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded that AbdulSalaam Firdaus Amasa be immediately called to bar by the Nigerian Law School.

    The rights group made the demand in a memorandum it dispatched to the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary and Justice.

    The House of Representatives committee was mandated on Wednesday, 20 December, 2017, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the refusal by the Nigerian Law School to call the University of Ilorin law graduate to the bar over her insistence on wearing hijab.

    The MURIC memorandum, which was addressed to the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Justice and entitled “Memorandum in Respect of Call to Bar Case in the School of Law,” affirmed the mandatory nature of hijab for Muslim women in the Qur’an and restated the provisions of the Nigerian constitution on freedom of religion and respect for the dignity of the human person.

    The memorandum also revealed previous court decisions in favour of hijab including a Court of Appeal pronouncement confirming the right of Muslim women to use hijab.

    MURIC appealed to the House to “stand up for justice in this matter of infringement of Allah-given fundamental right of a lady who, having satisfied all righteousness in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, is being denied her right to practice the law profession on account of her being a Muslim.”

    The memorandum also stated that the Law School Hijabgate has brought to the fore the myriad of persecutions faced by Muslim women because of hijab in various sectors.

  • Muslim students condemn position of Law school on Hijab use

    The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria has described as unlawful the recent refusal by the Nigerian Law School to allow Firdaus Amasa entrance into the venue of the ‘Call to Bar’ ceremony recently in Abuja because she put on hijab.

    MULAN made the declaration in a communique on Monday in Katsina shortly after its three-day extra-ordinary National Executive Committee meeting.

    The communiqué, signed by the association’s National President, Dr. Kamal Dawud, read, “On the issue of discrimination, humiliation and the subsequent denial of calling Firdaus Al-Jannah Amasa to the Nigerian Bar, MULAN maintains that the position of the law remains as decided by the Court of Appeal in its judgment in ‘The Provost, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin & 2 Ors v. Bashirat Saliu & 2 Ors (CA/IL/49/2006), and Asiyah & Ors v. LASG & Ors (2016), 15 NWLR (Pt 1535) 117, where the court declared that the use of hijab by female Muslim students constitutes an act of worship, hence the refusal to allow the appellants wear it on their uniform is a clear infraction of their rights.

    “This remains the position of the law and it is unlawful to deprive female Muslims from putting on the hijab in government-owned institutions.

    “The association salutes Amasa’s courage and defiance in standing up for her rights and adhering to the tenets of her religion.

    “MULAN is also not oblivious of the lopsided tilt of our legal system. Muslim lawyers have been subjected to conform to certain practices and adorn themselves with paraphernalia like the wig and gown that have Judeo/Christian neo-colonialist origin without complain.

    “MULAN has set up a nine-man committee to meet and make representations to all relevant authorities in order to ensure that the issue is justly determined.”

    The National President of MULAN, in his presentation, encouraged lawyers to rise up to the challenge of ensuring the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians with respect and obedience to the rule of law.

    Justice Musa Abubakar, who represented the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice A. Yusuf, on the occasion, urged Muslims not to be discouraged by what he described as recurring global persecution but to hold on tenaciously to the tenets of Islam.

  • Muslim group wants to embark on nationwide protest over hijab controversy

    The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike over the controversy on hijab.

    Amasa Firdaus, a graduate of the Nigeria Law School, was denied her called to bar for wearing a hijab to the ceremony.

    This had attracted criticisms.

    Commenting on the development, NSCIA asked federal government through the ministry of justice to call the council for legal education and the Nigerian Law School to order in order to prevent a religious crisis in the country.

    The body also demanded that Firdaus be called to bar immediately and that she should be compensated adequately.

    “We stand by Abdulsalam Firdaus Amasa who acted within her constitutional rights and we insist that she must be called to the Bar and adequately compensated for the humiliation she was subjected to,” read the statement signed by Salisu Shehu, its deputy secretary-general.

    “Our council patiently waits for what the ministry will do as it puts other options on the table including litigation and nationwide protests.

    “There is no doubt that Abdulsalam Firdaus Amasa has been victimized, humiliated and traumatized by the Nigerian Law School, the Body of Benchers and the Council for Legal Education on account of her faith. She has been denied of rightfully joining her professional colleagues just because of her religion. She has been exposed to ridicule and opprobrium by standing for her religious rights.

    “It begs the question that she is not the only Muslim lady among those concerned as no one will stand for her when she appears before her creator to defend the correctness and otherwise of her actions. We reiterated that she has not violated any law.

    “This is the last straw to break the camel’s back and it will be difficult for the Council to persuade Nigerian Muslims from taking these serial injustices against them again.”

  • Lawmakers join ‘hijab debate’ urge committee to investigate alleged rights violation

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday intervened in the raging controversy over the refusal of the Nigerian Law School to call a graduate, Amasa Firdaus, to the Bar.

    The House directed its Committees on Justice and Judiciary to investigate the matter and make appropriate recommendations to the floor.

    The resolution followed a motion moved by a member from Kano State, Mr. Abubakar Danburam-Nuhu.

    He had faulted the Law School on the grounds that it infringed on the fundamental rights of Firdaus.

    The University of Ilorin graduate was due to be called to the Bar on December 12.

    However, the Law School stopped her after she insisted on wearing the Hijab.

    On its part, the school insisted she must adorn a wig, the conventional head cover worn by lawyers.

    Firdaus had been quoted as saying that she opted to wear the Islamic head scarf to challenge the status quo.

    On Tuesday, Danburam-Nuhu, while arguing his motion, told the House that under Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, Firdaus was entitled to dress the way she liked.

    “The section supersedes any provision by any government agency or institution”, he stated.

    He said the wig or the dress code of lawyers was borrowed from the West, adding that Nigeria must not impose it on its citizens because it came from the West.

    Danburam-Nuhu claimed that in the UK and some African countries, including Kenya, graduates were allowed to use the Hijab during graduation or other similar ceremonies.

    The session was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.

  • Hijab controversy: Osun Muslim community asks Nigeria’s council of legal education to apologize to Firdaus, Muslims

    The Osun State Muslim Community has demanded an apology from the Nigeria’s Council of Legal Education over the treatment meted out to a female law school graduate, Firdaus Amasa Abdussalam who was prevented from being called to the bar because of her hijab.
    The Acting President of the body, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi while briefing journalists after an emergency meeting of the OSMC at its Secretariat in Osogbo said the manner Firdaus was treated by the Body of Benchers during the call to bar at the International Conference Centre was a huge embarrassment to the generality of Muslims in the country.
    Olawuyi said Firdaus did not breach any law by refusing to take off her hijab and challenged the Council of Legal Education to point out the section of the law of the land that was contravened by the innocent Muslim sister.
    According to Olawuyi “Having satisfied necessary requirements to practice law in Nigeria by attending a university and the law school, it is traumatic that Firdaus Amasa Abdussalam was denied the call to bar just because she is an obedient Muslim lady covering her head with hijab as directed by the Almighty Allah.”
    “Just imagine, Firdaus Amasa Abdussalam was already wearing her neat gown and the wig on top of her short hijab, ready for the ceremony but she was not allowed to enter the International Conference Centre only because she fulfilled an obligation that is part of her religion.”
    “We consider the action of the Nigerian Law School as a violation of the right of this lady to freedom of religion as enshrined in the Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
    “We therefore demand apology from the Nigerian Law School over this needless embarrassment to Firdaus Amasa Abdussalam and all Muslims in Nigeria and worldwide.”
    The OSMC also demanded that Firdaus Amasa Abdussalam must be called to the bar in the next ceremony. Olawuyi warned that “whoever that attempts to hinder the lady from being called to the bar subsequently would incur the wrath of Allah here in this world and in the hereafter.”
    “Muslims in Nigeria will not keep our hands akimbo as long as injustice and persecution of Islam and Muslims remain unchecked”, he said.
    The OSMC lauded the President of Nigerian Bar Association A.B. Mahmoud for his prompt reaction on the matter which has been trending on the social media with the hashtag #JusticeforFirdaus being used.
    The NBA President who posted the photo of his daughter, Zubaida wearing hijab when she was called to the New York bar had described the controversy as needless and promised that the association would look into the matter.

  • Hijab crisis: Sultan of Sokoto condemns Law school, says Hijab usage recognised by Nigerian law

    Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar has reacted to the raging controversy over Hijab.

    He decried the controversy, stating that Hijab simply meant decent dressing for Muslim women and was part and parcel of Islam.

    Speaking in Lagos on Saturday during the fifth National Convention of Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) he stressed that Muslims were peace- loving, therefore, should be allowed to practise their religion as stipulated by Allah and as contained in the traditions of Prophet Mohammad.

    UNILORIN graduate, Miss Amasa Firdaus was denied from being called to bar last week for refusing to remove her Hijab worn under her wig.

    Represented by a member of NSCIA and Wazirin of Katsina, Prof. Sanni Abubakar Lugga, the Sultan said Hijab was not only a mode of dressing in Islam only but was also an accepted mode of dressing in Christianity and Judaism.

    He further asked why the Law school would stop a sister from wearing Hijab wondering if the legal school was higher than NJC

    He said, “His eminence wonders while Hijab has now become a controversial issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing, decent dressing by the females. So why should decent dressing be a problem? The Hijab is just an Arabic word. In English it means decent dressing.

    “His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of dressing. It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to preserve her chastity in public.

    “Secondly, in Nigerian constitution it is absolutely clear. Why should Nigerian Muslims be molested and even denied their own right? The Appeal Court ruling in Ilorin is there, the Appeal Court in Lagos and also the High Court all delivered judgement in favour of Hijab.

    “Justice Alooma, the former CJN, Justice Bukalchuwa and other Senior Justices in Nigeria wear their Hijab and then the wig on top of it. The Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC), the Highest body in the judiciary has not said, ‘no, they should stop’ which means the Nigerian constitution allows the Hijab, the Nigerian Courts through these three judgements have allowed the Hijab and the NJC through these senior judges has allowed the Hijab.

    “Why will a legal school refuse our sister’s induction into the judiciary simply because she is wearing Hijab? Is the law school saying they are above the NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, they are above these three senior courts?”

  • Law School vs hijab controversy: You can’t wear religious garb during secular ceremony – Fani-Kayode

    Former Minister of Aviation, Fani Kayode, has blamed Amasa Firdaus, a graduate of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), who was denied ‘call to bar’ by officials of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) for failing to remove her veil, otherwise known as hijab.

    Fani kayode says Firdaus was only being childish and disingenuous as Nigeria is a secular state and she cannot insist on wearing a
    religious garb during a secular ceremony.

    The former minster, while reacting via his Twitter handle said, ”The girl that insisted on wearing her hijab during her call to the Nigerian bar was being childish and disingenuous.

    ”You cannot insist on wearing religious garb during a secular ceremony and she is not the first Muslim to be called to the Nigerian
    bar. Nigeria is a secular state.”

    Reacting earlier, Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls Group, challenged the Nigerian Law School on rules preventing the use of Hijab during its call to bar ceremony.

    The BBOG co-convener called for rules that hinder fundamental human rights to be addressed in order for the country to grow.

     

  • Hijab: I’m fighting for freedom of those coming behind me – UNILORIN law graduate

    Sequel to a brawl that occurred at the Nigerian Law School earlier in the week over the admittance of a graduate of the institute to the venue of the call to the bar ceremony for appearing in hijab (headscarf), the affected graduate, Firdaus Amasa, has said her insistence not to put off the hijab was a deliberate attempt to set those coming her free.

    Amasa, a graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was specifically refused entry into the hall for insisting to wear the wig on top of her hijab – a headscarf.

    The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with Nigerians divided on her decision and that of the authorities of the law school.

    Speaking in an interview with Premium Times on Saturday, Amasa said she remained resolute in her convictions to set a precedent for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the ceremony.

    In her words: “My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony).”

    Asked whether she was aware of rules and regulations that guide against the use of Hijab at the ceremony, she said there was none, stressing that it was merely based on conventions.

    “There is nothing like that (laws preventing the use of Hijab). When you ask them too, they tell you it is convention; that that is how it is done and it has to remain like that.”

    Asked what motivated her to take the decision, she explained that she wanted to change the narrative and give Muslim sisters the rights to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution.

    “I knew that was what was going to happen,” she said of the consequences of her decision. She, however, said she remained resolute in her convictions to speak for the recognition of rights of female Muslim law graduates.

    She explained further that the Law School has not said anything on the case, adding that the support from the Muslim community has been impressive.

    “My demand is that Hijab should be approved,” she affirmed.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Law School, on the issue was however unsuccessful as at the time of this report.