MURIC TO OSUN POLICE COMMAND : DO YOUR JOB

 

30^th June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO OSUN POLICE COMMAND : DO YOUR JOB  

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told the Osun Police Command to do the needful without wasting time.

 

 

It will be recalled that one man was killed while 14 others were seriously injured when masquerade worshippers attacked Muslims in front of their mosque on Sunday, 26^th June, 2021. The Commissioner of Police in the State of Osun, Olawale Olokode confirmed on Tuesday that no arrest has been made. But in a swift reaction, MURIC called on the state command to do its job.

 

 

The Islamic human rights organisation spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 30^th June, 2021.

 

Akintola said, “We are getting worried. Law abiding Muslims were attacked right in front of their mosque in daylight and the police is saying no arrests have been made. We are talking about human life here. A whole Baba Adinni of an Islamic organisation was shot and killed and the police is telling the world that it has made no arrests.

 

 

“What of Kayode Esuleke, the popular masquerade leader who led the attack and whose name we supplied? Is he too hot to handle? Is he a sacred cow? What of the weapons used by the attackers, particularly the guns? Are they licenced? Can’t the police start from there? Police must make the masquaraders to produce those guns. The police know how to get them to produce it.

 

 

“We can see that the police has started footdragging. Procrastination is the thief of time. The culprits are digging in while police is hesitating to move in. Those guns will disappear into thin air in no course of time. We hope nobody is trying any hankypankies.

 

 

“Meanwhile we are still waiting to hear from Afenifere and other vocal groups. Why is everyone still silent 72 hours after the attack on Muslims? We are certain that hell would have broken loose if it had been the other way round. But everyone is mute now because Muslims are at the receiving end.

 

 

“We are gradually being given a taste of the proposed Oduduwa Republic pudding. This is what Yoruba Muslims will face in Oduduwa Republic if it becomes a reality. Currently in Yorubaland, Muslims are third class citizens. They are subjected to Christian common law, their marriages are declared illegal and their properties discarded with in haram fashion. Their wives and daughters are humiliated in public offices and schools.

 

 

“But the worst is yet to come. The protagonists of Oduduwa Republic have worse plans of oppression and persecution for Yoruba Muslims who refuse to disown or compromise their faith. It is because we want to avoid such dehumanisation that MURIC asked Afenifere and other groups agitating for Oduduwa Republic to speak up on the issue of civil Shariah and hijab in public offices and schools. They have not responded up till now. Yet they are determined to drag us willy nilly to another Somalia.  

 

 

“We hereby charge the Osun Police Command to do the needful. We fingered Kayode Esuleke as the leader of those who attacked unarmed Muslims with dangerous weapons. Esuleke must be arrested. He must provide the guns used by the attackers. #muslimlivesmatter

 

 

“By the way, we are not aware that any government delegation has visited the home of the man who was killed by the masqueraders. Has any succour been provided for the women who were suddenly turned widows and the children who were unexpectedly transformed into orphans? Has the state government been proactive in a crisis that occurred within the state capital? These are questions begging for answers.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

ATTACK ON MUSLIMS IN OSHOGBO: MURIC DEMANDS JUSTICE

 

29^th June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

ATTACK ON MUSLIMS IN OSHOGBO: MURIC DEMANDS JUSTICE  

 

An elderly man, Alhaji Moshood Salahudeen, was killed while 14 other Muslims sustained gunshot and cutlass-inflicted injuries on Sunday, 26^th June, 2021 when masquerade (egungun) worshippers of the traditional religion attacked members of the Qamar ul-Islam Society who were holding a programme in front of their mosque at Oluode Aranyin, Ita Olookan area of Oshogbo, Osun State.

 

 

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the killing. The group described the killing as dastardly and called on the Commissioner of Police, Osun Police Command to fish out the killer and his accomplices.

 

 

MURIC made the demand in a statement circulated to the media on Tuesday, 29^th June, 2021 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“Egungun worshippers killed an elderly Muslim and wounded 14 others in Oshogbo on Sunday, 26^th June, 2021. The Muslims were hoding a programme in front of their mosque, the Qamarudeen Central Mosque which is situated at Oluode Aranyin, Ita Olookan area of Oshogbo, Osun State when the masquerade worshippers came from nowhere and started attacking them.

 

 

“Children were among those who sustained gunshot wounds and other injuries. The deceased was the Baba Adinni of the organisation, Alhaji Moshood Salahudeen. He came all the way from Iwo to attend the programme. He was alleged to have been killed by one of the attackers, Kayode Esuleke.

 

 

“We are stupefied by this horrendous crime. It is a dastardly act. It is brutish, fiendish and barbaric. We call on the Commissioner of Police in the State of Osun to order the arrest of the main culprit, Kayode Esuleke and his co-travellers. Justice must not only be done in this case, but it must be seen to have been done.

 

 

“We appeal to Muslims in the state to refrain from attempting any reprisal attack. We have no doubt that the state police Command will ensure that the culprits will not go unpunished.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

DON’T TRIVIALISE CRIMES COMMITTED BY BANDITS – MURIC

 

26^th June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

DON’T TRIVIALISE CRIMES COMMITTED BY BANDITS – MURIC 

 

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned against trivialising crimes committed by bandits and herders.

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, the director of the organisation, gave the warning in a press release issued on Saturday, 26^th June, 2021.

 

 

According to Akintola, “Nothing can extenuate the crimes committed by bandits. We should not look for excuses for them. Rather we should educate the Nigerian public on the position of the Shariah regarding banditry. We should also let the bandits know the gravity of their crimes and the ‘kabiirah’ status of their sins.

 

 

“Banditry is categorised as ‘hiraabah’ in Islam. ‘Hiraabah’ is a technical term in Shariah which means waging unprovoked war against the people. The Glorious Qur’an even ranked it as waging war against Allah and His messenger (i.e. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).

 

 

“It says, ‘The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger by spreading evil and committing atrocities in the land is either execution, or crucifiction or cutting off their hands and legs from opposite sides or sending them into exile. That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment awaits them in the Hereafter’ (Qur’an 5:33).

 

 

“Thus we see that the Qur’an does not treat banditry with kid gloves. Note should be taken of the promise of ‘heavy punishment’ for bandits even after death. It is for this reason that we are calling on all Islamic scholars in the country to boldly rise to the task and interprete the Shariah in a befitting manner. Banditry has become a hydraheaded monster threatening to swallow up the social order. It must therefore be met with every necessary force to nip its threat in the bud.

 

 

“MURIC calls on all bandits to surrender to the state governments wherever they are operating. There can be no talks or any form of negotiation with bandits before surrendering. State governments should monitor the situation thereafter for a period no less than twelve months. The authorities can only start considering how to engage them in some productive ventures if no violent attack is reported within the period.

 

 

“Apart from the long arm of the law which will eventually catch up with them no matter how long, the eschatological implication of everlasting and ‘heavy punishment’ in Al-Akhirah (the Hereafter) is enough to dissuade them against continuing their negarious activities. We therefore reiterate our call on all bandits and herdsmen who are traumatising Nigerians in Zamfara, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Yobe, etc, to surrender without delay.

 

 

“The atrocities committed by bandits and criminal herdsmen in all parts of the country should be fiercely confronted by state governments. That is why state governors must ensure that they spend their security vote on equipping their states’ security outfits in such a way that they can adequately and sufficiently meet the current security challenges of their states. State governors should stop abdicating their responsibilities. 

 

 

“To this end, state governments should register all cow owners within their jurisdiction. State security outfits should get details of owners of cows which destroy farm crops with a view to holding them accountable. We frown upon a situation whereby farmers are left to cry over their crops after working laboriously to feed the citizenry. We are all in danger if there are no consequences for impunity and criminality.

 

 

“Nigeria today is being slowly strangulated by two extremists, namely, those who idolise bandits and those who demonise ethnicities. Both groups are two extremes that must be deradicalised as quickly as possible. Those who hold life as sacred and appreciate the dignity of labour will never spoonfeed bandits, kidnappers and rapists.

 

 

“But at the same time, they will never criminalise any ethnicity. That is the mistake being made in this matter. The new state security apparatus should therefore focus on trouble makers, not their tribes. Non-violent herders should not be attacked. Efforts should be made towards the establishment of ranches. This should be the responsibility of cow owners who may be assisted with repayable loans from state governments. Cattles which destroy crops should be held until compensation is paid by the cow owners.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE: MURIC GIVES JAMB THUMBS UP

 

23^rd June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC GIVES JAMB THUMBS UP

 

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has given the Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (JAMB) the thumbs up. According to MURIC, JAMB deserves commendation in view of its swift response to challenges and the disciplinary actions meted out to erring Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres during the ongoing JAMB examinations around the country.       

 

 

MURIC spoke on Wednesday, 23^rd June, 2021 via its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

“The Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (JAMB) deserves accolades in view of its swift response to challenges and the disciplinary actions meted out to erring Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres during the ongoing JAMB examinations around the country.       

 

 

“We are not saying JAMB is perfect, but the Board has performed creditably well having succeeded in keeping its head above in the murky waters of the Nigerian ecosystem. We monitor national examinations in this country and we know what happens in many of them. But JAMB has been able to rise above the maddening crowd.

 

 

“The examination body has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that it will not take any nonsense from anybody. The swift manner with which JAMB delisted twenty four (24) CBT centres within 24 hours of receiving credible reports of their misdemeanour leaves us in no doubt whatsoever that there will be no hiding place for those who fall short of expectations.

 

 

“A case in point is one of the CBT centres in Lagos where candidates who were billed to start the examination by 7 am on Saturday, 19^th June, 2021 were kept sitting in the hall from 7 am to 3 pm doing virtually nothing. Meanwhile the 9 am batch as well as other batches were kept waiting outside. They were only told to go home around 3.30 pm after wasting the whole day. The centre’s excuse was that its computer systems failed to come up.

 

 

“We were very excited when the centre’s name was found among the 25 delisted centres 24 hours later. We are still marvelling at the efficiency and high level discipline manifested by JAMB. This is how things are made to work in a serious country. There must be consequences for negligence or if some people abdicate their responsibilities. What we need is strong systems and a culture of discipline. That is what JAMB is giving us.

 

 

“The posting of candidates far away from their bases is an area JAMB may want to look into for improvement. There is always room for better performance in any institution. We discovered during monitoring that some parents and guardians had to accompany their children and wards respectively to sleep overnight somewhere close to the centre.

 

 

“We understand the need for JAMB to remove the proximity and comfort zone factor in order to reduce the level of examination malpractices but perhaps something can still be done to alleviate the suffering of both candidates, parents and wards. This will add lustre to JAMB’s human face.

 

 

“Credit must also be given to JAMB for ensuring that the persecution of female Muslim candidates which used to be widespread in the South West during its examination has been reduced to its barest minimum. This was made possible by adequate briefing and enlightenment sessions organised by JAMB for its staff and ad hoc workers prior to the examinations.

 

 

“But MURIC still received reports that a few recalcitrant and overbearing security and ad hoc workers still delayed hijab-wearing female candidates for as long as one hour before permiting them to enter the examination hall. We will like to suggest that a small leaflet containing rights of candidates and limitations of officials should be among documents to be downloaded by registered candidates. Such a material can also be distributed among all officials at the examination centres.

 

 

“Candidates facing harassment and profiling can show this to overzealous security or ad hoc staff. Religious sentiment apart, examination officials should be made to realise that harassment of candidates for any reason at all before or during the examination may affect the emotional stability of such candidates and reduce their chances of giving their best during the examinations. It is conservative, crude and brutish.

 

 

“Finally, MURIC will like to register its great pleasure with the way and manner JAMB has displayed transparency, accountability and high level discipline without compromising administrative efficiency.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

HAJJ 2021: NIGERIA WAS NOT BANNED - MURIC

 

21^st June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

HAJJ 2021: NIGERIA WAS NOT BANNED - MURIC

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added its voice to that of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) concerning the situation of hajj this year 2021.

 

 

MURIC’s interface was contained in a statement made available on Monday, 21^st June, 2021. The statement was signed by the director of the human rights organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“It will be recalled that the government of Saudi Arabia last week restricted all foreign countries from bringing their pilgrims to perform hajj this year 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NAHCON immediately issued a statement on the restriction to keep Nigerians who had intended to partake in the holy exercise informed.

 

 

“Although NAHCON’s statement was self-explanatory, some Nigerians still find joy in twisting it to satisfy their own perception. We therefore find it mandatory to make some clarifications in view of wrong perceptions and the possibility of some mischief makers misleading Nigerian Muslims in particular and the general public as well.

 

 

“Of particular interest is the deluge of questions being asked on the development. But of serious concern to us are some strange and misleading questions asked by journalists of some media houses who want MURIC to react.

 

 

“One journalist said, ‘Recently Saudi Government barred Nigerian Muslims from performing hajj due to Covid-19…’ as if Nigerian Muslims were the only intending pilgrims who were not allowed to travel to the holy land.

 

 

It is necessary to disabuse the public’s mind about this kind of misconception. Saudi Arabia’s restriction of 2021 pilgrimage affected intending pilgrims from all parts of the world. They only allowed their own citizens and foreigners living inside their country to perform this year’s hajj. It is not a Nigerian affair. It is universal. Even Americans, Britons, French, Germans, etc who planned to perform hajj cannot go.

 

 

“A journalist even sent an outrageous question. He asked, ‘Can’t the worshippers look inward for an alternative within the country?’ In other words, he was suggesting that intending pilgrims and perhaps all other Muslims in Nigeria should find an alternative to those rites of hajj which are performed in the holy land. By inference, his question implied that Nigerian Muslims should stop going to Saudi Arabia for hajj once they are able to find an alternative.

 

 

“Devoid of any mischief that may have been intended, this kind of question arose from a total lack of understanding of the religion of Islam by many non-Muslims. Islam is a divine religion and there are scriptural rules and guidelines for Islamic religious rites. Hajj is no exception in this regard. It is the last of the five pillars of Islam and details of where and how it should be performed are contained in the Glorious Qur’an (22:26 – 33; 5:3; etc).

 

 

“This is why no country in the world or any Muslim individual or group can, or should, invent an alternative for hajj. There is just one Ka‘bah in the world and it is mentioned in the Qur’an (3:96). The Muslims did not just wake up one day and started dreaming about a holy house of Allah. No country has Safa, Marwah, Muna or the plain of Arafat. The Qur’an mentioned Safa and Marwah in 2:158. Even the lesser hajj, Umrah is mentioned alongside hajj per se in Qur’an 2:196.

 

 

“Neither do Muslims conjure religious rites to imitate any other religious group. There is a clear, unambiguous and indubitable instruction in the Qur’an commanding capable Muslims to perform hajj. Almighty Allah said, ‘Pilgrimage to the House is a duty for those who have the capacity.’ (3:97)

 

 

“Those who are contemplating the possibility of finding an alternative for the Ka‘bah, Safa, Marwah, Arafat, etc, should just bury the thought. All the gold in the world cannot build those holy places. They are not tourist attractions. They are divinely anointed places which no human intelligence can comprehend nor any material wealth construct.

 

 

“MURIC joins the National Hajj Commision (NAHCON) to appeal to Muslims who had planned to perform hajj this year to remain strong in faith as their dreams will be realised as soon as COVID-19 recedes and the Saudi authorities review their policy on admission of foreigners for the annual hajj exercise.

 

 

“We also commend NAHCON for being proactive. It is on record that the Commission has already told prospective pilgrims who wish to collect the money paid for this year’s hajj to come forward. To that extent, therefore, NAHCON is being transparent and accountable without being forced to do so.

 

 

“Finally, we reiterate our position that this is a postponement necessitated by COVID-19 pandemic. It is not a punitive measure against the Nigerian government or a disciplinary action against Nigerian Muslims. Hajj 2021 has been postponed the same way that several events of massive gathering of people have been postponed in many parts of the world on account of the Corona Virus pandemic. We urge all those affected by the postponement to strictly follow guidelines issued by NAHCON authorities from time to time.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)