13th May, 2014
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC REJECTS ‘CONVERSION’ OF KIDNAPPED GIRLS
Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has released a video showing some of the girls kidnapped at a government secondary school in Chibok, Borno State on 14th April, 2014. In the video, Shekau announced that the kidnapped girls had been converted to Islam. He also threatened not to release them until some of their members in Nigerian jails are set free.
We reject the purported conversion of the kidnapped girls. It is cowardly, shameful, ridiculous and preposterous. It is sacriledge. We affirm authoritatively that such conversion does not hold water in Islam because a non-Muslim can only be converted on his or her own free will.
We have no iota of doubt that the girls ‘converted’ under duress. Such ‘conversion’ is null and void under the Shari’ah. The Glorious Qur’an is very explicit in this regard as it says, “There is no compulsion in religion…” (Laa ikrahun fii ad-diin” (Qur’an 2:256).
The so called conversion is therefore baseless, unfounded and of no validity whatsoever. It exists only in the hallucinated imageries in Shekau’s demented mind.”
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urges the Federal Government to dismiss Shekau’s offer of exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the kidnapped girls.
A man who orders the invasion and kidnap of innocent young girls is honour-blind. Shame on Boko Haram! Shekau has no modicum of integrity left in his anatomy. He has no intention of honouring this deal. He is trying to buy time. He is digging in.
MURIC calls on all churches and mosques to pray for the downfall of Boko Haram. This renegade group is out to defame and distort the true teachings of Islam. Members of Boko Haram are rebellious subjects and enemies of peace.
We charge the Nigerian Army to go back to the drawing board and evolve more potent strategies for crushing this renegade group. To crush Boko Haram is a task that must be done.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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