Date: 2017-12-26

A group of youths and women yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration in some parts of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital in support of a law school graduate, Firdaos Amasa, who was denied Call to Bar by the Nigerian Council of Legal Education on account of her wearing of Hijab to the ceremony.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions ?such as "Save Our Soul from being Oppressed," "Justice Is Demanded for Firdaos", "Mandela Challenged the Status Quo, Firdaos Is Doing the Same", "Say No To Religious Persecution" and "Enough of this Chronic Humiliation".

The demonstrators under the banner of 'Justice for Firdaos', took off from Challenge to Ahmadu Bello Way, Umaru Audi Road, Tanke and terminated near Tanke Oke-Odo in Ilorin metropolis.

Speaking with newsmen during? the peaceful demonstration in Ilorin, one of the conveners of #Justice for Firdaos# hastaged "IStandWithFirdaos#, Mr Nurudeen Ibrahim, described the denial of the female law graduate from being called to the Nigerian Bar as an injustice.

Ibrahim noted that the plight of Firdaos has become a global issue, pointing out that what the Council of Legal Education did, was a flagrant infringement on her fundamental human right.

He said the demonstration was aimed at drawing public attention and sending a signal to the authorities that the time has come for Nigerians regardless of religious difference to co-exist in peace.

"Our gathering has to do with an injustice meted against one of our sisters, who was denied her fundamental human right, because of the fact that she refused to pull off her Hijab during the Call to the Bar ceremony held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

"As a result of this, it has become a global issue. Because what happened at the ICC was? a flagrant infringement on the fundamental human right of that sister of ours," he stated.

Also speaking, a former Dean, Postgraduate School, University of Ilorin, Professor Badmas Yusuf, said it was disheartening that those who are regarded as custodians of the law have turned violators.

?He said the rights of Firdaos were enshrined in the nation's law book and therefore should not be denied by any convention.

Yusuf, a Professor of Islamic Studies, noted that the denial of the female law graduate to be called to the bar because of her wearing of Hijab was a deliberate expression of hatred against Islam and should not go unchallenged.