Amasa Firdaus Abdusalam a Nigerian law graduate, was denied her call to the bar after refusing to take her hijab off. She was not allowed to enter the International Conference, where the call to the bar is usually held, on December 12th, by the body of benchers.

A call to the bar is an official ceremony where an individual is sworn into a court and obtains a licence to practice in that jurisdiction.

Her university, a Law school based in Lagos, said that Firdaus was breaking the dress code set by the university. However, Firdaus insisted on wearing her hijab, underneath her wig. She has called this refusal a violation of her right to freedom of religion which is protected by section 38 of the 1999 constitution.

Firdaus may have another opportunity to be called to bar next year, only if she is deemed as complying with all the rules and regulations set. However, A.B Mahmoud, the president of the Nigerian Bar Association has promised that he will look in to matter for her.

The decision has sparked debate over the matter on Twitter, as well as support for Firdaus, using the hashtag #JusticeforFirdaus ;

Those who argue the lady should have “just” taken off her hijab to get called belong to the same group of people that would’ve asked Rosa Parks to “just” give up her seat to a white man 60 years ago. #JusticeForFirdaus #CallFirdausa

— Abdul-Jabbar Hashim Kolo (@AbdulJabbarKolo) December 15, 2017

https://twitter.com/muhaammeddaud/status/941195657582465024

---

Related

Celebrating #BlackMuslimahExcellence

Selina Begum – The First Student from a State School to Win Eton Debating Competition

Why are Muslim Girls not Afforded the Same Right to Exist the Way Other Children are?

---

After five years in the university 🎓 one year in law school, huge amount of money paid for school fees both in the university and law school, this muslim sister was not called to bar simply because she wore a small hijab #JusticeforFirdaus pic.twitter.com/2kKfPzAz8u

— Firdaus Balogun (@firdaus_balogun) December 14, 2017

https://twitter.com/muhaammeddaud/status/941325083615916032

You were denied of ur certificate but u will never be denied of almighty Allah's favour #justiceforfirdaus pic.twitter.com/dIbC55oTG3

— Umm Marzouq, Mahfouz & Mastourah (@heedayaht) December 14, 2017

Being a muslim is actually a way of life. Its not separate from who i am. The hijab to a muslim lady is part of her cloth. Tell her to remove it and you might as well ask her to go naked.

— Tawakalt (@shuaiboloade) December 14, 2017

I think Amasa Firdaus should have been called to the bar with her hijab. We are experts at focusing on the wrong things. The problems of the legal profession are declining quality, slave wages for new entrants and corruption at the bench. Not hijabs worn discretely under a wig.

— Dr Joe Abah, OON (@DrJoeAbah) December 16, 2017

https://twitter.com/G_Abdulazeez/status/941459150533480450

I wish I had the kind of courage you exhibited. I'm proud of you. You would rather not be called than being a prisoner of conscience inside the archaic wig and gown
You said no to violation of your right. #JusticeforFirdaus#ISTANDWITHFIRDAUS pic.twitter.com/hSqgEWgjpl

— Kazeem A. Oyinwola (@Oyinwolakazeem) December 14, 2017

For those who say Firdaus can't win the Council of Legal Education, let me remind you of Nelson Mandela's words. "It always seems impossible until it is done". May God spare our lives, I will remind you again when it is done, whichever way it is done. #JusticeForFirdaus #Hijab

— ADETOLA-KAZEEM AHMED (@ADEKAHMED) December 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/hasibsuenu/status/941295167281287169