Muslim Law graduate denied call to bar for wearing Hijab

A female Law graduate of a Nigerian University has been in tears after her friend was denied a call to the Nigerian Bar Association for wearing a Hijab, an apparel worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty and privacy.

The lady, Ruqayah Atinuke Rahmon, who studied Common Law and Islamic Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, took to her her Facebook and Instagram accounts to lament the injustice done to her friend, Barrister Amasa Firdaus, and other Muslim graduates who are not treated equally by the law because of their religious beliefs.

Rahmon whose Instagram handle is Savvy_Ruqqy, revealed that the only reason her friend wasn’t called to the bar was that she was dressed in a black Hijab and her refusal to take it off on request by the authorities.

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Read what she wrote here:

“Good morning everyone. I want to use this medium to express my dissatisfaction with the way Muslims are treated in this my profession called ‘Law.'

A sister wasn’t called to the bar because she was dressed like that [picture above]. Please, for God's sake, what is wrong with that picture? Because she was putting on a small Hijab tucked into her collarette, why? What has Hijab done to them?

Where is our freedom of religion as stated in the constitution? We need justice… For those that don’t know, Hijab is a MANDATORY part of my religion not just a piece of clothing, so if is said to have been guaranteed in section 38 of the constitution of my country that is said to be supreme and has a binding force overall as seen in section 1 of this same constitution and Section 42 of this same constitution guarantees my right to freedom from discrimination, please for God's sake, what is this then?

And before you come here to attack me, please read section 38 [1] and section 1 [1] first and also go ahead to read S1 [3] of this same constitution with an unbiased mind, where it is said that if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail?

Biko, what are we now talking about?

Please, we want justice. We want our Hijab.

We want #JusticeForFirdaus... We want to wear our Hijabs for a call to the bar... We want to wear it in the courtroom... Stop the discrimination... We are Muslims, not terrorists... Hijab is Mandatory... We want Justice for Firdaus."

She later took to her Facebook page to post a write up from a Port Harcourt-based man, Amasa Mohammad Tukur, who also wrote on the injustice done to the lady:

"My heart is heavy and tears rolls down my eyes as I write this post. I just called my elder brother a few minutes back to facilitate with him on the call to bar ceremony of our daughter, Barrister Amasa Firidaos but I got the shock of my life when he told me Firdaos was denied the long-awaited dream of her life just because she would not put off her Hijab.

What has Hijab got to do with a ceremony that is not lasting beyond an hour? What offence has Firdaos committed rather than being an obedient servant of her creator to deserve this ill treatment from Nigeria?

ALSO READ: "Pulse Nigeria Poll: Nigerians say the Federal Government Should ban Hijabs"

We are talking about a 2/1 graduate of the University of Ilorin and did excellently well in the law school. Brothers and sisters in Islam, please help broadcast this message for Aljannatul Firdaos as popularly called, to get justice from the Nigeria state.

#IStandWithFirdaus

#OurHijabOurPride."