26th December, 2011 PRESS RELEASE: CHRISTMAS DAY BOMBING IS UNISLAMIC Multiple bomb blasts marred the glamour of Christmas day yesterday in many parts of Northern Nigeria. The blasts occurred in two churches near Abuja and in some other places causing huge death toll and leaving several wounded. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is shocked and petrified by this development. We are saddened and nonplussed by this complete lack of respect for places of worship and an incomprehensible and insatiable thirst for human blood. We strongly condemn these dastardly acts. The attacks are barbaric, Satanic and absolutely unIslamic. The timing of the attacks is equally alarming, reprehensible and preposterous. The attackers cannot claim that they were revenging the attack on Muslims in Jos during the last Id al-Fitr on August 30th 2011 which left many Muslims dead because Christians celebrating Christmas earlier on December 25, 2010 were the first to be killed in bomb explosions. Nothing in the scriptures of Islam justifies this kind of attack. We therefore assert clearly, unequivocally and unambiguously that Boko Haram is not fighting for Nigerian Muslims. MURIC wishes to alert the Federal Government, the security agencies and the generality of Nigerians about the real motive of the planners of the Christmas day bombings. The bombings are designed to ignite religious war between Christians and Muslims in the whole country. They wish to create mutual suspicion, complete chaos and a total breakdown of law and order. We therefore charge the adherents of the two main religions in Nigeria (Christianity and Islam) to ignore the irrational provocations of Boko Haram. Christians and Muslims must continue to forge greater unity for the progress of the country. We must not succumb to the pressure of advocatus diaboli in our midst. Finally, we urge the leaders of the two main religions in the country to publicly address their supporters and organize joint rallies and programmes. We implore religious organizations to sensitize their members on the need for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence via public lectures, seminars and symposia. We warn Muslim youths against joining the rampaging sect. Security agents must take urgent proactive steps to protect minority religious and ethnic groups in various parts of the country against reprisal attacks. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
This is the official blog of the Nigeria-based Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a human rights organization which promotes, protects and projects the rights of Muslims. This group condemns terrorism and all acts of violence. Its motto is 'Dialogue, Not Violence'
Sunday, December 25, 2011
CHRISTMAS DAY BOMBING IS UNISLAMIC
Friday, December 23, 2011
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
24th December, 2011 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: DROP THE IDEA OF REMOVAL OF SUBSIDY Christians all over the world will mark the birth of Jesus tomorrow 25th December, 2011. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitates with the body of Christ in Nigeria in particular and the rest of the world in general. While there is cause for celebration, there is also every reason to engage in sober reflections. There is cause for celebration because Jesus was not born into the world in vain, neither did he live a sinful life. He pursued the goal of his coming with vigour, patience and endurance. His life was replete with noble deeds, simplicity and humility. He eschewed waywardness, greed and violence. He blessed those that cursed him and forgave those who offended him. It is for these reasons that we celebrate him today. In the same vein this is a season for sober reflections, particularly among Nigerians. We must ponder over our manner of following Jesus and how well we emulate him. This is the period when we must look inward for some self-examination. We must ask ourselves if we are fulfilling the wish of God who created us. Are we living a life devoid of sin? Are we sure that we are not responsible for the calamities befalling our dear nation? How much patience and endurance do we exhibit? Are we prepared to perform noble deeds for our country Nigeria without asking for anything in return? Do we not crave material things of this world at the expense of the Hereafter? Do we love our neighbours genuinely and wish for them what we wish for ourselves? Do we forgive those who offend us? In other words are we like Jesus? MURIC seizes the opportunity of the yuletide to demand that our leaders engage in soul-searching at this period. Nigerian leaders must ask themselves what type of leaders they are. Which of the problems facing the citizens have they been able to solve? Is it electricity, inflation, poverty, security, health or education? Instead of bringing suffering, Jesus brought relief. Our leaders must answer the question: Do you want to be like Jesus? If their answer is positive, they must immediately drop the idea of removal of subsidy and evolve other means of ameliorating people's suffering. Finally, Nigerians must come together. We must sink ethnic and religious differences. It is high time we laid emphasis on our common goals in order to forge greater unity and take this country to El Dorado. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
Monday, December 19, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: LEKKI TOLL GATE
19th December, 2011 PRESS RELEASE: LEKKI TOLL GATE: MARK OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP The Lagos State government recently introduced tolling on the Lekki-Epe expressway. This was done after giving the road palpable facelift. The four-lane expressway is being turned into a ten-lane affair and work is still going on. However, dissenting voices are already criticising the government's introduction of tolling on the road while some residents have organised demonstrations at the toll gate. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commends the vision manifested by the current leadership of Lagos State government in refurbishing Lekki-Epe expressway. Lagosians have suffered prolonged and untold hardship on that particular road . We have no doubt that the citizenry will soon heave a sigh of relief if on-going refurbishing and tolling are not disturbed. The bane of Nigerian roads is poor maintenance culture. We believe that tolling is necessary to ensure regular maintenance. The brouhaha being generated is therefore unnecessary, misplaced and misinformed. We affirm clearly, indubitably and unequivocally that the completed part of the work depicts state-of-the-art engineering capable of transforming Lagos into a befitting mega-city of international standard. It is a pride for all Nigerians. MURIC therefore urges Lagosians to be pragmatic and objective. While we recognize the right of individuals to express dissenting opinion, we warn that Lagosians should not cut their noses to spite their faces. We must not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Nigerians have been highly critical of bad leadership. We have blamed leaders for their ineptitude and myopic mien. Lagos State presently has a leadership that even cynics testify to his undiluted integrity and unequalled administrative acumen. There is an urgent need to start appreciating visionary and altruistic leaders so that like-minds can always offer their services to the country. We therefore appeal to Lagosians to learn how to encourage the initiatives of good leaders. Change must be general, not particularistic. As Nigerians ask leaders to change, the man in the street must equally be ready to change his mindset. We ask Lagosians to be part of the change by accepting the toll gate as part of their own sacrifice.
Those who plan demonstrations must do so with high sense of responsibility and professionalism in order to avoid hijacking by hoodlums who may commit atrocities under the guise of partaking in peaceful demonstrations. Finally, MURIC warns Lagosians and civil society groups not to allow themselves to be used by reactionary elements, enemies of progress and political charlatans. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace |
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fw: Dawkins: PM Wrong On Christian Values - Yahoo!
Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974 I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered --- On Sun, 12/18/11, Dr. Ishaq Akintola <drishaqakintola@yahoo.com> wrote:
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
Fw: [muslimrights] Fw: Insight: The day Europe lost patience with Britain - Yahoo! News
Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog: muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter: twitter.com/muslimconcern Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace --- On Mon, 12/12/11, Dr. Ishaq Akintola <drishaqakintola@yahoo.com> wrote:
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