A Nigerian lawyer has been denied the call to the bar for wearing a hijab which was deemed as going against the dress code set by the Nigerian law school.
Amasa Firdaus was refused entry into the hall where the ceremony took place, the Director General of the Nigerian law school Dr Olanrewaju Onadeko told the BBC. She refused to remove her hijab, insisting on wearing the wig on top of her head scarf, Nigerianlawyer.com reports.
Ms Firdaus described the actions of the Nigerian law school as a violation of her rights, the report says. A woman had taken to Instagram to complain about how a "sister" was treated indiscriminately by the Nigerian legal establishment using the hashtag #justiceforFirdaus.
The case has sparked mixed reactions on Twitter:
Billionaire Zaddy@The_TamaraJay
I feel the hijab babe has made her choice.
Wearing The hijab is more important than becoming a Nigerian Lawyer.
Why all this fuss?
5:25 AM - Dec 15, 2017 · Abuja, Nigeria
Juliet 'Kego @julietkego
Underneath it all, you'll find good ole patriarchy at the root of the issue, cos you know, what else would dare dictate what a woman wears? -Bikini or burkini, nun habit or hijab, maxis or muted nudes...?
BTW, women were NOT allowed to wear trousers in US congress till In 1969..
12:20 AM - Dec 15, 2017
Juliet 'Kego @julietkego
Replying to @julietkego
Oh, let's talk about some of the other things that women were NOT allowed o do before SOME BRAVE WARRIOR-HEARTED Women BROKE THE DARN RULES:
-NOT allowed to vote
-NOT allowed to drive a car
-NOT allowed to ride a bicycle (yep!)
-NOT allowed to own land/titles/properties
-NOT ...!
eche idoko @saint_steve9
this senerarios are not similar , would a military woman wear a skirt to the battle front or will a female engineer be alowed to tie gele to a sight instead of a crash helment dear. Hijab is simply not a part of the dress code for a Nigerian lawyer
8:14 AM - Dec 15, 2017
9jaWitches ?????????????? @badgalmaddie_
This Hijab issue is so hilarious!
Your WCW spent 5 years in the University studying THE LAW, spent an extra year at the LAW SCHOOL to know THE LAW.
Then on the D day, she decided to break THE LAW?
She played herself.
Give to Caesar what is Caesar's.
Tobechukwu Ekwunife @Tobe_ekwunife1
Everyone must not be a lawyer. But if you decide to attend the Nigerian Law school you bound by its rules, if she insists on wearing the hijab she'll not be coerced to do otherwise but she cannot also expect to break the law that binds an organisation and claim right to religion.
6:30 AM - Dec 15, 2017
Report
On tweeter has shared pictures showing women in other countries wearing hijabs under their professional uniforms:
Kayode Ogundamisi ? @ogundamisi
#EndDiscriminationAgainstHijab the oyinbos who dashed you wig and gown are beginning to recognise diverse faith based dress codes in different professions. Call the lady to bar. Interesting how Twitter HUMAN LIES activists went blind on this.