In a triumph for justice and rights, after months of legal battle, Amasa Firdaus, the Nigerian law graduate who was prevented from wearing her hijab during the call to bar ceremony has finally won her case. She was allowed and now Muslim female lawyers don’t have to remove their hijab. The sorrow they experienced on their most joyful day has thus become a thing of the past.
She challenged the order in court. Obviously knowing her books!
Thank you, Amasa for being the beacon, for standing firm, bearing the pain and ridicule (from both Muslims and non-Muslims) and your perseverance.
May Allah reward you.
Many thanks also to her family, friends, well-wishers, the online Muslim community, international media like AlJazeera and the BBC who provided more publicity, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,(NSCIA), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and other Nigerian Muslim organizations who stood by her.
Of note is the support of notable non-Muslims like Dr Joe Abah (lawyer, a public policy expert who tweets about public service reforms) who stood on the side of truth and eschewed religious intolerance. They used their good office and influence to join in the fight and today are honoured.
This is a lesson for the many Muslims who attacked her back in December. We pray Allah forgives our shortcomings.
By her steadfastness, she has written her name in gold.
Lastly, this news boosts confidence in the Nigerian legal system which is currently undergoing much-needed reform.
Read more in this Guardian article, and Cable News NG
For more perspective, read the earlier blog post on this issue.
Oumissa Inspire 