Hijab: CMO demands Firdaus Amasa’s call to bar

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7 years ago

The umbrella body of all Muslim organisations in Kwara State, the Council of Muslim Organisations (CMO), has demanded that Firdaus Amasa, who was denied induction by the Nigerian Law School, be called to bar without further delay.

The religious body described as illegal, the decision of the Nigerian Law School barring the Muslim law graduate from being inducted “merely” for wearing hijab.

Amasa, a graduate of the University of Ilorin and an indigene of Kwara State, was not called to bar by the Nigerian Law School for her insistence on wearing a head covering (hijab) during the induction ceremony on December 13, 2017, in Abuja.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the CMO’s coordinator and former Grand Khadi of Kwara State, Justice Idris Haroon, said the lady was denied her induction on account of her resolve to exercise her religious rights as enshrined in the constitution.

The Muslim organisation said the provision to wear hijab must be inserted in the code of conduct book of the Nigerian Law School, the Nigerian Defence Academy, all paramilitary formations and other national agencies which, it said, deny female Muslims from wearing hijab, based on Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution.

“Hijab is a living component of the dress code of the Muslim lady/woman. Hijab dignifies her status and distinguishes her from commoners, protects her and elevates her. It is her religious identity. Allah orders her to wear the hijab. So, it is a divine instruction.

“Bound by all time-honoured principle of judicial precedents, High Courts, and in particular, the Court of Appeal, have consistently upheld and unanimously affirmed the decisions on the use of the Islamically prescribed head cover (the hijab) by the female Muslims students,” it said.

On the New Year Eve mayhem in Ilorin, the state capital, the group praised Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari, for their quick intervention which, according to it, prevented the crisis from degenerating.

It also thanked the state police command for its quick response and timely clarification as regards the perpetrators of the attacks.

On the raging issue of female circumcision and female genital mutilation in the state, the group said female circumcision is a religious practice endorsed by Prophet Muhammad, adding that it should be differentiated from female genital mutilation.