#WHERE_IS_NAMLAS As posted by Prof. AbdulRazaq Kilani My hearth is heavy and tears rolls down my eyes as i write this post. I just called my elder brother few minutes back to fecilitate 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 the Nigeria. We are talking of a 2/1graduate of 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 get justice from the Nigeria state. Amasa Mohammad Tukur write from Portharcourt.

ON HIJAB, LAW SCHOOL & CALL TO BAR.

“Meanwhile sources at the ICC stated that before the ceremonies were to begin, all Muslims were respectfully asked to remove their hijabs prior to entering the hall. This request was complied with by all the Muslims present except Amasa Firdaus who vehemently refused to remove hers. In the process of her protests and despite entreaties made to her by other Muslims she was denied entry into the hall by the Body of Benchers. During the ceremony, a Respected former Chief Justice of Nigeria also met with Amasa Firdaus to convince her to remove her hijab but she did not heed the pleadings as she reiterated that even at gun point she would never remove her Hijab...” (Culled from a Nigerian Law Blog site)

Dear Amasa Firdaus, I want to address you. Please allow me share a brief story with you so that you may be inspired and remain resolute.

In 2015, my wife, a Soldier with the US Army, was told at the Army Annual Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, United States �� that she either take off her Hijab or leave the Annual Training. My wife insisted that her Hijab is part of her and she will never remove it to please anyone or authority. Exactly like you reportedly insisted. Eventually, she was told to leave and she left the Annual Training. After the conclusion of the annual training, her Military unit said she cannot return....At another point, she was invited back to the drill and she went there with her Hijab � on her head. Again, she was told she cannot use her Hijab and she had to leave and she left. Away from the limelight she fought this vehemently by escalating the issue to the top echelon of the command. We prepared a memo to the authorities explaining why she should be allowed to use her Hijab �.

She was away for almost a year but eventually and in end, the Army Secretary under President Obama released a new regulation allowing the use of Hijab. It was a glorious moment. Her decision to remain undaunted paved the way for others who will come after her. Suddenly, the fight was worth it. All those period she had to cry became a thing of joy. We were elated that her resolve to remain undaunted finally paid off. Today, she proudly wears her Hijab on her uniform, attends her drill sessions and performs well. She’s a badass solider who’ll soon be commissioned as an officer and I’m so darn proud of her.

That is my message to you today Firdaus. You have a made a huge sacrifice and I cannot begin to imagine how sad you feel that the profession you so much look forward to joining has asked you to choose between your faith and your call to bar. You must be so disappointed that Nigeria let you down. I bet you also feel that your Muslim colleagues who took off their Hijabs � when ordered to do so should have stood firm and maybe when they realise that none of you is willing to break rank, they’d have allowed you all to use your Hijab. I get the feeling of sadness. But don’t be. You’re a hero.

You have once again reignited the conversation that has been on for years. You have brought our attention to the way the Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education who are empowered to train new lawyers show flagrant disregard to your rights under S. 38 of the constitution. Your courage and sacrifice remind me of that of my wife. You call to bar may have been delayed but in the end, Justice will prevail and it won’t be denied. Please, cheer up! The road ahead will be tough but Allah will strengthen and ease that burden for you.

To your friends and family, this is the time to rally round one of your own and give her all the support she needs. Her decision to fight this injustice is not stupid. Heroes are not always in uniform.

To my lawyer colleagues, once again, we have been called to task. How do we explain it that the Nigerian Law School & Council of Legal Education who are empowered to train new lawyers will themselves refuse to obey the judgments of the Court? Does that not worry u