The
influential Sultan of Sokoto has berated the Nigerian Law School for
stalling Amasa Firdaus's call to bar over her decision to retain her
hijab.
Posted by George on Mon 18th Dec, 2017
Abubakar Sa’ad,
Abubakar Sa’ad, Sultan of Sokoto, has said the Nigerian constitution allows the use of hijab.
He said its use is not restricted to Muslim women, but also to
Christians and Judaists. The sultan said the hijab is a sign of decency
and mode of dressing for any woman who “wants to preserve her chastity
in public”.
This is coming against the backdrop of ongoing controversies
trailing the denial of a female Muslim law graduate, Amasa Firdaus, from
being called to the bar over her use of the hijab.
The sultan made his position known on Saturday at the fifth
national convention of Muslim Public Affairs Center (MPAC). He was
represented by Sanni Abubakar Lugga, Waziri of Katsina.
“Why will a legal school refuse our sister’s induction into the judiciary simply because she was wearing hijab?” he asked.
“Is the Law School saying they are above National Judicial
Council, NJC, they are above the Nigerian constitution, and they are
above these three senior courts?
“His Eminence wonders why hijab has now become a controversial
issue. Hijab simply means decent dressing by females. So why should
decent dressing be a problem? The hijab is not just an Arabic word. In
English it means decent dressing.
“His Eminence has asked Nigerians to reflect and see that this
is not only an Islamic mode of dressing but a Christian mode of
dressing.
“It is also a Judaism mode of dressing and it is a dressing for
every decent woman. It is a dressing for any woman who wants to
preserve her chastity in public.”
Citing top female Muslim members of the bar and bench who have used hijab in their official capacities, he said, “justice
Alooma, the former CJN, justice Bukalchuwa and oher senior justices in
Nigeria wear their hijab and then wear the wig on top of it.
“The NJC which is the highest body in the judiciary has not
said ‘No, they should stop’ which means the Nigerian constitution allows
the hijab.”
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