MUSLIM RIGHTS (MURIC): SPECIAL APPEAL TO BOKO HARAM TO RELEASE THE WOMAN AND FOUR CHILDREN

Monday, March 25, 2013

SPECIAL APPEAL TO BOKO HARAM TO RELEASE THE WOMAN AND FOUR CHILDREN

25^th March, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

SPECIAL APPEAL TO BOKO HARAM TO RELEASE THE WOMAN AND FOUR CHILDREN HOSTAGES

A French family of seven, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, his wife, four children and brother were seized by the Boko Haram group on Tuesday 19^th February while holidaying in the region around Cameroon's Waza National Park. After one month and two days, there appears to be evidence that the hostages are still alive as a video showing all of them was circulated to journalists on Thursday 21^st March, 2013.

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) are deeply touched by the plight of the hostages as depicted in the photographs displayed on the pages of newspapers.

We remind the leader of Boko Haram, Mallam Ibrahim Shekau and those connected with the kidnapping of the French hostages of the position of Islam on the treatment of women and children both in peace time and during wars.

The Glorious Qur'an 4:1 grants women a position of reverence. In Qur'an 30:21 men are enjoined to treat women kindly. Qur'an 4:19 specifically commands good treatment of women (wa 'ashiruhuna bil-ma'ruf). According to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), children are the perfumes of Al-Jannah. The Prophet described men who treat women kindly as the best among their peers. The Prophet also forbade Muslim warriors from harming women and children.

MURIC therefore appeals to Boko Haram to release the woman hostage and her four children in the light of the Islamic teachings above.