Firdausi: Muslim lawyers cite position of law on Hijab
The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) has expressed support for Firdausi Amasa, a law student who was barred for wearing Hijab during a call to bar event recently.
A communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Meeting in Katsina by its president, Dr Kamal Dawud said the position of the law remains as decided by the Court of Appeal.
MULAN said “In its judgement 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 constitute an act of worship, hence the refusal to allow the appellants wear it on their uniform is a clear infraction of their right.
“This remains the position of the law and it is unlawful to deprive female Muslims from putting on the Hijab in government owned institutions.”
While commending Amasa’s courage and defiance in standing up for her rights and adhering to the tenets of her religion, the association urged the Council of Legal Education as well as all other institutions to take cognisance of the diversity and peculiarities of Nigerians and not insist on ‘archaic conventions’, which in no way add value to contemporary trends in legal practice.
“We collectively stand for the rights of all Nigerians and any laws, policies and regulations that contravene the provisions of the constitution, more particularly the rights of individuals shall not be allowed to stand.
“MULAN calls on the National Universities Commission to review the status of Islamic law courses from being electives and make them compulsory courses in tertiary institutions particularly in predominantly Muslim areas, as the training of lawyers must be made relevant to the immediate community where they practise.
“MULAN is also not oblivious of the lopsided tilt of our legal system. Muslim lawyers have been subjected to conform to certain practises and adorn themselves with paraphernalia like the wig and gown that have Judeo/Christian neo colonialist origin without complain,” the association said.