Twitter Nigeria has been engaged in a huge to-do all day over whether The Nigerian Law School was right to deny Firdaus her call to Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria simply because she refused to wear a hijab, which isn’t regulation attire for Call.
Muslim faithfuls are divided over the issue. Some think she picked the wrong fight/profession, but the majority are convinced the NLS is wrong and all who say otherwise are “Islamaphobes”.
Our duty is to present all sides of the argument, so here’s the Muslim case:
Gimba Kakanda calls out Islamaphobes.
Some of you are not even good at masking your islamophobia.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
This is a democracy, and the constitution is unequivocal about our individual and collective freedoms. As long as a citizen's religious practice does not harm the adherents of other religions or the non-religious, why the fuss?
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
The shame is, we are demonizing that Muslim lawyer for wearing hijab without seeing the irony of our lawyers still wearing wigs, which were actually embarrassing court dress that only reminds us of our humiliating history as a colony.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
American courts have long thrown those clownish wigs away, disassociating themselves from the British colonizers who introduced the wigs there. But, then, we are not a thinking people. We have legitimized colonial history, we praise it as the best thing after a politician parent.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
The same way I abhor religious impositions, is how I detest policing of harmless religious practices and values. This space is big enough for all to co-exist without friction.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
Even athletes wear hijab now, and these are people who have a reason not to. How does hijab, especially of small size, affect a lawyer's professional engagements? Why can't we think beyond sentiments, beyond Britain, beyond colonialism, beyond imperialism, beyond our self-hate? pic.twitter.com/5WtjwI7Ebp
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) December 15, 2017
Roqeebah Olaoniye insists that the hashtag is necessary, if only for the conversation it spurred. She also wants to know why her faith (and its affiliates) should be separated from her career.
See below:
People will miss the point event if it stood smack in their way. This is not a #CallFirdausa fight. It's an opening for us to engage with a code that pretends to save you from the need for religious affiliation while abusing your freedoms.
It is rubbish. And needs an overhaul.
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
If I'd summoned the guts to do what the lady did when I got called to the bar – instead of sitting, humiliated, through the ceremony, while fully realising the injustice of it – I imagine I'd be totally furious with the response from the majority.
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
I'm feeling the urge to curse and get rude so I'll stop here.
These are the questions we should be asking. Not being tools and victimising the girl. In fact, the only time her name should be called is if we want to credit her as the person who started the conversation.
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
If I'd had the guts to refuse to take off my scarf at my Call to Bar, it'd have been just so we can start a conversation and then fix things. I wouldn't want to be part of a profession where everyone follows dumb ass codes without asking the right questions anyway.
And I don't.— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
Because I can't help but be ratchet:
For some dumb lot tempted to say she should have just removed it and started the conversation after being called, please hear judgmental self first. It's still you that will say "oh but she removed it to get called" OR "she knew the rules…
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
There's never a convenient time to stand in the face of patriarchal stupidity. And IMO, the CTB ceremony is as strategic a time as any to confront the Body of Benchers directly.
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
If after all the ruckus, she gets called, it will be like sprinkles on cupcake. The point is that we finally have the chance to ask why.
But here we are.
— The Roqeebah O. (@Roqeebah) December 15, 2017
Zainab reiterates the islamophobic sentiments and goes on to explain the constraints hijabis face:
https://twitter.com/zizzycarter/status/941430492594917376
https://twitter.com/zizzycarter/status/941432220463652864
https://twitter.com/zizzycarter/status/941433185036046336
This!!! They dont even see you. Its the Hijab.
— Zulaikha Oloriegbe (@zuleykhha) December 14, 2017
Summary of it is:
We as Muslims are not advocating for everyone to put on Hijab during Law Dinner and Call to Bar, what we are advocating for is that the Muslim lady should be allowed to express her religious values. It is her right and not a choice. #EndDiscriminationAgainstHijab
— Abu Jabir Penabdul (@PenAbdull) December 14, 2017
Eyewitness report
Lmao. I was there all through that Hijab drama. And the way we begged her to remove it n enter for her call was annoying. N she was busy insulting n cursing everyone. We got tired and said to her 'no be you be Muslim alone for here o'. N sat n laughed at her all through
— Stefan Mst Moniedafe (@Stef_23rd) December 14, 2017
Wrong conversation
Please let’s stop the Hijab talk, she has right to make her decision and she did… also she must face the consequences of her decision on earth, later she can enjoy her benefit in heaven and it’s none of our business.
— sc: awesomebillsam (@The_improviser) December 15, 2017
I have no opinion on the hijab issue.
My only contribution is that Nigerian lawyers should get rid of those silly 18th Century vintage pantomime wigs.
I mean, the temperature in Lagos is like 30 degrees Celsius and we are bothered about some silly colonial relic.
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) December 15, 2017
Both the Hijab and the wig are borrowed cultural attires. You can blame colonialism if you like, but other former British Colonies have long abolished d wig and gown for lawyers, only judges wear gown without the wig. But in Nigeria we must do more than the owners of the culture.
— Everest Nwagwu (@Mrprezident007) December 15, 2017
Reactions:
Dress code, not hijab
This conversation is really about DRESS CODE. It is not about Hijab. If you hate Hijab (as a an extension for Islamophobia), then you need help. If you love Hijab (as an extension of your religious belief) and really want to bend the law for it, you need help too.
— Kelvin Odanz (@KelvinOdanz) December 15, 2017
Let everybody wear anything they so please to wear. Can that work ??? Never! Bikini in Arab countries will never work. You see, this is not about freedom but sentiments.
— George Ter Ayua (@GTAyua) December 15, 2017
They wear Hijab because the rules of the game have allowed that. But when being called to the bar, there is a dress code and Hijab is not part of it. So u know the rules but you broke it, thus, you'll have to accept the consequences. If you don't wanna obey the rules, go home.
— Sage (@SageKyngDavid) December 15, 2017
Oga, if you could gather all these pictures to back your argument, how come the word 'context' appears alien to you?
If the IOC, FIFA, IAAF and other sport bodies ban the Hijab, will the athletes use it?
In this context, the lady's Hijab isn't acceptable. It's not a debate.— Jonathan Ameh ?? (@iamMista_jay) December 15, 2017
She's not the only Muslim to have gone through Law School. The institution has a dress code which every student irrespective of tribe and religion must adhere to. If the code is considered outdated, change it. Don't break the same law u spent years studying.
— FredLaw (@Kwasimodo_) December 15, 2017
Islamophobe?
Lived in Northern Nigeria nearly all my life, this smacks hypocrisy, I mean let's pretend that Islam (where majority) actually let others have their rights to freedom. But no, we are islamaphobes. ?
— Ezinna. (@_Sir_LeRoy) December 14, 2017
I swear! In the north where i serve, GOVERNMENT schools (not private) force every girl to cover their hair. My neighbor was not only forced to cover her hair but to wear Hijab that must cover her shoulders. No! But we are islamaphobes. Lubbish
— No one (@ilynem) December 15, 2017
Sorry for using these pictures without their consent.
These barristers are Muslims but they didn't wear Hijab.
Follow the law that guides your profession ? pic.twitter.com/hJv3OXEegT
— Olumuyiwa?? (@coajnr1) December 15, 2017
Sensitive, much
One criticised the Unliag guy that was expelled and the Redeemed Uni guy that wasn’t allowed to graduate. Small criticism for the hijab lady now and people want to fight. Why is religion this sensetive to people?
— Dr. Dipo Awojide (@OgbeniDipo) December 15, 2017
Finally,
No consensus here.
Reformed social media monitoring spirit
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