FRESH BLASPHEMY IN OSUN: ARREST AKINTARO NOW – MURIC

 

21^st May, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

FRESH BLASPHEMY IN OSUN: ARREST AKINTARO NOW – MURIC

 

The Osun State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)  has called the attention of security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to the misdemeanors of Pastor Akintaro Joshua Ojo over his recent utterances which are capable of plummeting Osun and the entire South West Nigeria into chaos and religious war.

 

Just few days into mourning Deborah whose brutal killing MURIC condemned along with her senseless and audacious act of blasphemy, and as if that was not enough, a pastor by name Akintaro Joshua released an audio tape raining insults on Allah (The Supreme Creator), Islam, the Qur'an, and The Noble prophet of Islam Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (SAW), an effrontery far more dangerous than one could imagine and which no sane Muslim can stomach.

 

Some of his provocative utterances as heard in the audio-visual clip are: ‘We are not as stupid as your Muhammad’; ‘Your Muhammad is a sinner’; ‘There is nothing called Allah or Jibril. Muhammad is the one bearing those names’; ‘Go and tell your leader, Muhammad’s brain is dark and he is daft’; ‘Why call Muhammad ‘holy’, He is not Holy Prophet’.

 

Akintaro did not only release his rancorous and venomous audio, he also went ahead to include his two mobile numbers which are: 08034201859 and 08188898410 for whoever wants to attack him but nay, we won't take laws into our hands and we urge all Muslims in Osun State to allow the security agencies to handle this man’s case.

 

The South West Nigeria is a more delicate area because of its fair share of both Muslims and Christians and any religious war in the zone could possibly wipe out millions of lives.

 

MURIC has continued to wonder what actually Akintaro wants to achieve in the South West by uttering such slanderous, heinous, malicious,derogatory, and egregious statements about our Lord, Allah, our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), our religion, Islam, and our book, the Glorious Qur'an.

 

Is it to incite Muslims against Christians? Is it to catalyse another jungle justice? Is it to frustrate the coming elections in Osun? Is it to mar the economic activities in the region? Or is it to destroy the infrastructures in place by inciting a religious war? All these questions and more keep begging for answers.

 

The Osun State chapter of MURIC calls for calm among several Muslim communities in the state. Please do not take the law into your hand but remain law abiding. 

 

We call on the Osun State Police Command and other law enforcement agencies to quickly wade in lest we witness another mayhem and loss of lives in the South West.

 

The Osun State chapter of MURIC and the entire Muslim community in the state will not allow Akintaro to mismatch our gentility for cowardice nor heat the polity of Osun especially, when the State election is around the corner. Therefore, instead of organising mob attack, we will allow the law to take its due course. 

 

In line with MURIC's avowed motto which is 'Dialogue, No Violence', MURIC headquarters in Lagos has directed that we should sue Akintaro. He will meet us in court. This is apart from whatever action the security agencies will take against him.

 

We hereby, call on the Government of the State of Osun, the DSS, all security agencies and most especially, the Commissioner of Police to immediately arrest the said culprit and charge him to court for his blasphemous positions on Allah (The Creator), our Prophet Muhammad, The Qur'an, and Islam. Akintaro must be arrested for attempting to plunge the state into chaos. 

 

Action against Akintaro by the security agencies must be swift and transparent in order to placate angry Muslims. It is the failure of security agents to take action against such blasphemers and trouble-makers in the past which made Muslims in the country to lose confidence in them. It eventually led to self help, jungle justice and mob action which MURIC will never encourage because we are a peace-loving and law-abiding organization. It is our hope that the security agencies will do the needful.

 

Above all, the man needs to be in protective custody because his highly explosive audio-visual messages have gone viral on social media. Security agents will be helping him if he is quickly arrested because Muslims in the state are already provoked, and rightly so. They are most likely to get more angry if they see him walking freely on the streets. 

 

This is to enable justice be served on Akintaro Joshua and to possibly tame others in his shoes before another religious war erupts.

 

Dr. AbdulAzeez Ademokoya,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Osun Chapter.

 

MURIC CONFIRMS LAWAN’S NASS AS BEST

 

20^th May, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONFIRMS LAWAN’S NASS AS BEST

 

Senator Ahmad Lawan, president of the Nigerian Senate, recently said that the National Assembly (NASS) did very well under him. However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the claim as an understatement. The human rights group said Lawan’s NASS is the best thing that ever happened to Nigeria in its 62 years of post-independence political experience.

 

This was contained in a press statement issued on Friday, 20^th May, 2022 by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

“Senate president Ahmad Lawan said recently that the National Assembly (NASS) performed ‘tremendously well’ under him. (https://www.thecable.ng/lawan-nassembly-under-me-has-done-well-david-mark-saraki-laid-good-foundation). We consider this as an understatement. Lawan injected life into the NASS. The 9th NASS is the best thing that ever happened to Nigeria in its 62 years of post-independence political experience.

 

“Whereas the 8^th NASS under Senator Saraki was characterized with motion without movement, regimented stagnance, tabularised controversies, delayed budgets, blocking of nominees and unnecessary friction between the executive and the legislature leading to near total strangulation of governance at the expense of the welfare of the Nigerian hoi polloi, Lawan’s ongoing 9^th NASS is noted for progress, dynamism, cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature without compromising the independence of the legislative arm. It is forthright and people-oriented.

 

“The sarakisation of the 8^th NASS led to legislative rigmarole, footdragging and the institutionalization of confrontation between the executive and the legislature. But Lawanisation in the 9^th NASS has engendered smooth running of government and uninterrupted law-making process.

 

“Nobody is trying to demarket anybody. The facts are there if we care to rewind the tapes. We know that many Nigerians are slaves of collective amnesia. But MURIC has not forgotten how the N6.06 trillion budget of 2016 was cruelly delayed till 23^rd March, 2016. The N7.441 trillion budget of 2017 was also delayed till 11^th May, 2017. The 2018 budget of N8.612 trillion also had to wait till 16^th May, 2018 while the N8.916 trillion budget of 2019 was approved on 30^th April, 2019. These were budgets which had been submitted in October of previous years.

 

“It should be noted that MURIC is not saying something new. We are not just confirming what the Senate president said on 8^th May, 2022. We issued a full press statement on 17^th June, 2021, captioned ‘Kudos to 9^th NASS At 2 – MURIC’ on this issue. That was a whole year ago before Senator Lawan made his claim.

 

“As a critical stakeholder, MURIC continues to observe the performance of the three arms of government in Nigeria, viz, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. Not even the fourth estate of the realm, i.e. the press, escapes our scrutiny.

 

“We are surprised to see that those who hijacked the 8^th NASS and constituted themselves into clogs in the wheel of legislation have come out again to deceive the people that they can take Nigeria to El Dorado. They want to hijack the reins of power in order to run Nigeria into a ditch. Their desire is to get by the bends what they failed to get by the straight.

 

“MURIC calls on Nigerians to open their eyes very wide. We must not allow ourselves to be railroaded into the abyss of despondency by any legislative shenanigan.”   

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

BLASPHEMY: STOP HATE SERMONS – MURIC

 

18^th May, 2022

 

PRESS RELEASE:

BLASPHEMY: STOP HATE SERMONS – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to Christian clerics to desist from delivering hate sermons. The group spoke on the heels of rising incidents of blasphemy around the country. 

 

MURIC's admonition was delivered on Wednesday, 18th May, 2022 by the group's director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

He said, "It has come to our notice that the root of blasphemy and its proliferation in this country is the licencious indulgence in and permission of hate sermon by Christian clerics and leaders respectively. Our weak institutions also condone both hate sermon and blasphemy. These are disasters waiting to happen unless we take urgent steps to plug the leaking holes.

 

"This is why the advice given by the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to Nigerian Christians regarding the need for Christians to respect the religion of others came at the right time. The president of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle on Monday, 16th May, 2022 pointedly told it's members to respect other people's religion (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/deborah-respect-other-peoples-religious-doctrines-can-appeal-to-christians/). 

 

"It will be recalled that the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa'd Abubakar, had earlier condemned the killing of Deborah Yakubu by a mob in Sokoto. He also cautioned against such action in future. MURIC is pleased with both leaders for issuing such positive statements.

 

"But we need to go further than that because Christians who make inflammatory statements and utter blasphemous speeches are merely parroting hate sermons heard in the churches. This is no news because video clips of famous pastors preaching hate and pouring out venomous and toxic sermons on the pulpit have gone viral on many occasions. 

 

"It is these hate sermons which instigate the ordinary Christian to make derogatory remarks about Islam and it's prophets. Hate sermon is the root of blasphemy. It is good that the President of CAN has told Christians to respect other people's religion but that is not enough. 

 

"Pastors are next in line and CAN leadership is advised to zero in on them. They are the ones who use their sermons to incite their followers against Muslims and their religion. It is our contention that there will be no blasphemy if there is no hate sermon. We therefore invite Christian leaders to caution pastors who are in the habit of preaching hate and deriding Islam.

 

“We must recognize the fact that there is suicide speech just as there is hate speech. Anybody can love Adolf Hitler. But when someone goes to Israel, climbs a table in the midst of a Jewish crowd and shouts ‘I love Hitler!’ It is doubtful if his family will have anything at all to bury from the bulk of his anatomy. 

 

The Islamic human rights advocacy group also cautioned Muslims and the general public against jungle justice. Akintola said, "Although it is true that Muslims only react when they are provoked by blasphemers, such reaction must not be violent. Violence is a square peg. Justice is a round hole. They don't match. What you gain is not what you lost. But it raises one above the herd to control his emotion and allow common sense to prevail.

 

"MURIC believes that mob action and blasphemies have been encouraged by the lackadaisical attitude of the security agencies as well as the slow judicial process in the country. Those who engage in mob action have just one dogma, namely, that the police will allow culprits to get away with the crime for an exchange of favours. They therefore take to self-help in the belief that taking culprits to the security agencies will not ensure that justice is done. 

 

"Muslims have complained that no single blasphemer has ever been made to face the full wrath of the law. Of course they are right. For instance, Isioma Daniel in 2001 claimed that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would take one of the Miss World contestants as a wife. The authorities gave her safe passage to Europe and she was never seen again in Nigeria. But not before about 250 souls were lost in the nationwide riot sparked off by her blasphemy. 

 

"Foreign governments also care less about the feeling of Muslims. The Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine fiasco of 2015 is a case in point. Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses of the 80s is another. Lars Vilks, a cartoonist in Sweden, who drew a caricature of the Prophet in 2007 lost his freedom of movement to his misuse of the so-called freedom of speech. In essence, those who misuse their freedom of speech are bound to lose their freedom of movement. The least scenario being hiding in the day and going out only at night.

 

"It is this lack of trust in the criminal justice system both locally and internationally that has been responsible for the phenomenon of jungle justice. It goes beyond cases of blasphemy. Armed robbers, kidnappers and pick pockets are quickly dispensed with through lynching and burning, particularly in our own country, Nigeria.

 

“Worse still, many innocent old women have been lynched and burnt alive in some parts of the country. Henceforth, the police should take action against both blasphemers and those who partake in jungle justice, at least for deterrence.

 

“In this regard, we call on both the Borno State Government and the State Police Command to ensure that the case of Naomi Goni is properly investigated. Naomi must face the full wrath of the law if her case is judiciable. But she should not be made to suffer any injury if she is not the author of the blasphemous post.

 

"MURIC calls for urgent enlightenment of the general public in this regard. A mob cannot effectively identify a culprit. What happens in most cases is that innocent people are killed for no just cause. 

 

"The slow pace of court cases is also a major raison d'etre for the rise in mob killing syndrome. We therefore call for a complete and total overhaul of Nigeria's judicial system. People will stop taking the law into their hands once they are sure of speedy and unimpaired adjudication.” 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

ANOTHER BLASPHEMY: ALLOW POLICE TO HANDLE THIS

 

15^th May, 2022

 

PRESS RELEASE:

ANOTHER BLASPHEMY: ALLOW POLICE TO HANDLE THIS

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has intervened in another blasphemy saga, this time in Borno State where another lady, Naomi Goni was alleged to have insulted the Prophet (SAW). The Islamic human rights organization has urged Muslims in the state to allow the police to handle the matter.

 

This was revealed in a statement issued in the evening of Sunday, 15^th May, 2022, by Professor Ishaq Akintola, director of MURIC.

 

His statement reads:

 

“Another lady has reportedly blasphemed against the person of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The latest incident happened in Borno State. The lady in the eye of the storm is Naomi Goni, a student of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri.

 

“One Abdulmajid Tanko Izge who is leading the allegation against her said in his post, ‘There is a girl named Naomi Goni who insulted the Messenger of Allah (saw) and in Islam it is a death sentence even if it is a Muslim. We therefore call on the Borno State Government to take immediate action or else we Muslims will not sleep and we will take action’.

 

“But neither Tanko’s message nor others that have been posted has revealed the actual blasphemous statement. Her accusers should therefore tell Nigerians the actual statement made by her which they consider blasphemous.

 

“In fact the lady herself has refuted the allegation. She said her phone was hacked by someone since last year. That casts a shadow of doubt on the allegation. It also makes her case different as she might not have been the author of the post.

 

“Tanko’s blanket statement that ‘in Islam it is a death sentence even if it is a Muslim’ also calls for concern among Shari’ah experts as he did not differentiate between an offence committed by a Muslim and another committed by a Christian.

 

 

“It is well known in Shariah circles in Nigeria that a Christian cannot be taken to a Shariah court unless he or she expressly opts for it. Christians can only be charged to the conventional court (common law court). That is why Muslims of Borno State must allow the police to handle the case of Naomi Goni. She is a Christian and the security agencies are there to handle her if it is true that she has committed blasphemy.

 

“Muslims must stop issuing death threats concerning this case because that creates the impression that we are living in a lawless society and that we have no respect for the rule of law.

 

“MURIC calls on Islamic scholars in Borno to follow due process. There should be proper guidance and tutelage for our youths. We should allow the police to investigate the matter.

 

“The youths should also repose confidence in the state government. They should not entertain the fear that the police will connive with Naomi Goni. We have a governor here who has taqwah (fear of Allah). Professor Zulum will ensure that justice is done no matter whose ox is gored.

 

“We therefore appeal to Borno Muslims to stop issuing death threats. We also urge the police to conduct a transparent investigation of the case. An early conclusion of the findings will inject a dose of confidence in the public. We also suggest that the state government should set up a separate panel to investigate the matter.”

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

SOKOTO IMBROGLIO: MURIC CONDEMNS LOOTING, ATTACKS ON CHURCHES

 

PRESS RELEASE:
SOKOTO IMBROGLIO: MURIC CONDEMNS LOOTING,
ATTACKS ON CHURCHES.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned attacks on churches and the looting of shops which occurred in Sokoto on Saturday, 14th May, 2022. 

In a statement signed by the director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, late in the evening of Saturday, 14th May, 2022. MURIC said the attacks were the handiwork of hoodlums and unscrupulous elements. He therefore appealed to Nigerians to desist from reprisal attacks on non-indigenes in other parts of the country.

The full statement reads:

"The Sokoto imbroglio boiled over yesterday, Saturday, 14th May, 2022 as hoodlums attacked a church and looted some shops. 

"We strongly condemn the attacks. The fact that the Sultan's palace was also targeted showed that the whole saga was the handiwork of unscrupulous elements. Muslim leaders knew nothing about it.

"We therefore appeal to Nigerians to desist from reprisal attacks on non-indigenes and places of worship in other parts of the country.

"We urge every Nigerian to shun violence of any sort. We will gain nothing by towing the path of mutual destruction. The cities of Ukraine lay in ruins. They serve as recent examples and living testimonies for all of us. The guns are still booming in Ethiopia. Peace continues to elude Southern Sudan.

"With our massive population, we must be reminded that no country can contain us if war should break out in Nigeria. All schools and universities will remain shut. Markets will be attended only by those desperate enough to take trips that are likely to entertain no return. We all saw how Ukraineans lived in bunkers for weeks without food or water.

"Therefore, let us control our emotions as our leaders seek to bring the situation under control. We urge opinion leaders, traditional rulers, Christian and Muslim clerics throughout the country to de-escalate tension in their areas and among their followers. We urge all men and women of influence to avoid the use of inflammatory words.

"We commend the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, for quickly declaring a curfew in order to bring the situation under control. We charge the security agencies in all states to take proactive steps for the protection of non-indigenes within their areas of jurisdiction."

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

SOKOTO DEMONSTRATION: MURIC APPEALS FOR CALM

14^th May, 2022

 

PRESS RELEASE:

SOKOTO DEMONSTRATION: MURIC APPEALS FOR CALM

 

There are reports of ongoing demonstrations in Sokoto today, Saturday, 14th May, 2022 over positions taken on the killing on Thursday of a female student in the state (https://platinumpost.ng/2022/05/14/blasphemy-protesters-invade-sultan-palace-demand-release-of-deborahs-killers/). 

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to all those involved to calm down and allow peace to reign. 

 

This was contained in a terse, three-paragraph statement issued by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Saturday, 14th May, 2022.

 

"MURIC salutes Governor Aminu Tambuwal, His Eminence the Sultan and the good people of Sokoto. This is not the time to be divided in the state, rather it is the time to unite and work for peace. What happened on Thursday should bring the people of Sokoto together and unite them with the governor and the Sultan. 

 

“As the seat of the caliphate, we must always ensure that Sokoto State is peaceful. The state must be allowed to develop both spiritually and economically. We therefore appeal to all demonstrators to disperse. We must allow our hardworking governor to serve us in peace. Please go home peacefully and return to your lawful duties.

 

“The Ummah as a whole from Yenagoa to Kaura Namoda and from Lagos to Jigawa has tons of love and immeasurable respect for Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar. We demand same from the Muslim youths in Sokoto State. We therefore urge the youths to leave the streets and return peacefully to their homes as their grievances are being addressed by our amiable governor.”

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC CONDEMNS BLASPHEMY KILLING IN SOKOTO

 

13^th May, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS BLASPHEMY KILLING IN SOKOTO

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the killing in Sokoto of a student, Deborah Samuel, over allegation of blasphemy.

 

In a statement released by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday, 13^th May, 2022, MURIC described the killing as outrageous, illegal and unlawful.

 

The full statement reads :

 

“A female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, was on Thursday killed for allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The blaspheme statement was reportedly posted on a whatshap group. She was asked to withdraw the statement but she allegedly refused to do so. The school’s security unit and police were overwhelmed by the crowd when they tried to rescue her.

 

“MURIC strongly condemns this killing and all others that have been happening in Nigeria in recent times. Those aggrieved by the student’s post should have reported her to the security agencies or to the Shariah police, the hizbah. Mob killing is archaic and bohemian. It belongs to the Stone Age. Nobody has the right to take the law into his hands.

 

“The Glorious Qur’an compares the killing of a single person to the killing of the whole of humanity just as it compares the saving of a life to the rescue of all homo sapiens (Qur’an 5:32) In like manner, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself condemned all acts of violence and advocated peaceful conduct at all times.

 

“But this incident should not be condemned in isolation. The recent trend whereby Nigerians now freely shed their brothers blood should be condemned by all patriots. In this regard, we also strongly denounce the killing of several Northern Muslims in the South East in the past few months.

 

“We frown at the recent burning last week of a truck fully loaded with cows in the South East as well as the killing of many Muslims of South East origin by their Igbo brothers in the same South East. We note with keen interest that Muslims in the North did not retaliate when these killings were taking place.

 

“MURIC calls on the Sokoto Police Command to do everything within its power to get to the bottom of the yesterday’s killing of the female student over alleged blasphemy. We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and law abiding. Nigerians should allow the police to carry out its investigations on the case. The Sokoto Police Command has started well as it already has two suspects in detention for the killing.

 

“Meanwhile we remind Nigerians to always exercise restraint on matters of religion. Free speech is no longer free if it amounts to religious provocation. Even the European Court has ruled that the utterance of derisive statements against the prophet of any religion is a crime.

 

“We affirm clearly, categorically and unequivocally that there is a symbiotic relationship between provocation, violence and extremism. While MURIC will not condone extremism and violence, the anatomy of terrorism is becoming clearer day by day. We must all ponder over the causal-effect theory. Violence and terrorism are mere symptoms. The real disease is provocation. Violence and terrorism are mere smoke. Provocation is the fire and we all know that there is no smoke without fire.

 

“We therefore appeal to Nigerians to desist from insulting, deriding or abusing the prophets of other religions. Muslims should continue to respect Jesus (peace be upon him) whom the Christians hold very dear. In the same vein, Christians should avoid casting aspersion on the person of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We have experienced enough religious crisis in the land.

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)