ASSAULT ON FEMALE MUSLIM CANDIDATE: MURIC SEEKS RELIEF

16^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

ASSAULT ON FEMALE MUSLIM CANDIDATE:

MURIC SEEKS RELIEF

An unidentified female supervisor of WAEC assaulted a female Muslim candidate at Egan Grammar School, Igando, Lagos State while candidates were taking biology on Friday, 2^nd September, 2016 between 9.30 am and 12 noon.

Although the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) reported the case at the human rights desk of the Igando Police Station and its press statement on the matter, dated 5^th September, 2016, was given wide media publicity, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is yet to take palpable action on the issue.

While we are aware that the examination body visited the examination center and interviewed the victim, 16 years old Khadijat Eniola Anisere, nothing has been heard of the case six weeks after. Our demand for “a public statement from WAEC on the supervisor’s identity and the official reprimand failing which WAEC should blame itself for the reaction of Muslims” has been largely ignored.

The Federal Ministry of Education and the general public should note this insensitivity on the part of WAEC. It is those who provoke Muslims by their arbitrary and oppressive actions that cause religious crisis. Yet people turn round to blame the Muslims who are the real victims of first instance.

The Aristotelian cause-effect theory avers that every little action must have a reaction. Muslims are very sober and highly disciplined people but it is natural that they react when they are oppressed. Most incidents of religious violence in Nigeria can be traced to one act of provocation or the other. Religious riots are ordinary smoke and there can never be smoke without fire. The fire which often causes religious riot is either provocation, persecution or outright denial of Allah-given fundamental human rights.

The unprovoked and unwarranted assault on Khadijat falls under two of the above categories, namely: provocation and persecution. Instead of going to the streets in public demonstration, MURIC took civilized steps. We reported the matter to the police and issued a public statement to draw WAEC’s attention to the bizarre and barbaric action of its supervisor but WAEC is yet to do the needful.

It is noteworthy that the assault on Khadijat was not the first of its kind on Muslim children. In fact it is common in the South West but we are determined to make this a deterrent. The assault on Khadijat constitutes child abuse because she is just 16. She wept profusely after the hijab was violently yanked from her head. She also wept steadily throughout the interview conducted by WAEC officials who visited the center after the assault was published by the media.

It is a shame that this assault is being ignored by human rights groups and feminist associations at a time when the world is paying so much attention to the plight of the girl child. Are we to assume that these groups are not interested simply because the victim is a Muslim girl and the culprit a non-Muslim? Is it not high time we stopped paying selective and parochial attention?    

In the interest of peace, justice and equity, therefore, MURIC is demanding the following reliefs from WAEC before the announcement of the results of the examination in question:  

1.  a public apology from WAEC for vicarious liability;

2.  that WAEC identifies the culprit and bans her from participating in similar exercise in future;

3.  that WAEC gives the candidate an opportunity to retake the paper in which the candidate was assaulted, disturbed and distracted now that the result has not been released and

4.  that WAEC issues a warning to its permanent and ad hoc staff to desist from assaulting, intimidating or stigmatizing Muslim candidates in future.

MURIC does not issue threats. We dialogue instead of going violent. We also believe that legal action is civilized action in a democracy. It is an extension of dialogue where subtle persuasion fails. Therefore, WAEC may hear from our lawyers if it fails to comply with the reliefs being sought.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

RELEASE OF 21 CHIBOK GIRLS: A PLUS FOR BUHARI

13^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

RELEASE OF 21 CHIBOK GIRLS: A PLUS FOR BUHARI

21 of about 265 Chibok girls who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents were set free today after several negotiations between the insurgents and the Federal Government (FG).

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commends FG for the successful negotiation which led to the freedom of 21 of the Chibok girls. This development marks the beginning of the liberation of the girls in totality. It also showcases FG’s genuine commitment to the rescue of the Chibok girls. It is a plus for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Although it is not yet Uhuru, we wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for bringing out 21 of the girls from captivity. It may be a small number but it is a pointer to better days ahead. A silver lining has appeared in the sky after cloudy and stormy days.

In particular, we hail President Buhari for his  recent passionate appeal to the United Nations (UN) to come to his aid in negotiating with the Boko Haram insurgents. We believe that it was this transparent and highly pragmatic approach which brought the Red Cross and the UN into the negotiation process. It is needless to say that the insurgents saw credibility and sincerity in FG’s latest negotiation moves because international agencies were involved.

However, the release of the 21 girls has effectively punctured the conspiracy theory of a few doubting Thomases led by the wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan who alleged that the abduction of the girls was a phantom. The reunion of the girls with the rest of Nigerians is also a serious indictment on the former president who dilly dallied for 18 good days after their kidnap before lifting a finger. Had he acted early, the girls would have been rescued before the insurgents did so much harm to them.

Former President Jonathan must therefore live with the moral burden of official and deliberate neglect in the case of the abduction of the Chibok girls for the rest of his life. It was sheer dereliction of duty at the highest echelon of power.

No more, no less. Jonathan’s moral nightmare must include the trauma experienced by the girls and their parents over the single parent phenomenon to which some of the girls who came back with kids are unjustly subjected.

We are saddened by the fact that some of the girls came back with children of their own but we thank Allah that they are alive. We charge FG to come up with a programme for the full rehabilitation of the 21 girls, their kids and others still in captivity whose release we are eagerly anticipating.   

MURIC appeals to the parents of the Chibok girls whose children are yet to be released to remain hopeful, to exercise patience and to have faith in the efforts of the Buhari administration to bring back their daughters.

On a final note, while we commend the efforts of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group in putting pressure on governments of the day on the subject-matter, we appeal for decorum and rational behavior in the methods adopted. While public demonstrations in the days of Jonathan can be rationalized in the face of official lethargy, the same cannot be said about the Buhari period.

We therefore advise the BBOG group to stop public demonstrations henceforth. Public demonstrations are capable of being hijacked by hoodlums who may loot shops, attack innocent motorists and commit other atrocities. BBOG should divert its energy to peaceful advocacy on the issue through press statements and humanitarian efforts aimed at improving the standard of living of the Chibok girls in particular, their education, their kids, their parents and the Chibok community in general.   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

MURIC HAILS NEW CAN EXECUTIVE IN OSUN

12^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS NEW CAN EXECUTIVE IN OSUN

The new executive of the Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN) recently paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. OSCAN commended the governor for his commitment to the development and transformation of the state in the face of present economic recession and lauded the state government for being consistent in championing equity, balance and harmony among the adherents of the three major faiths in the state.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) congratulates the new OSCAN executive on its assumption of office. We laud the new executive of OSCAN for this positive and progressive move. It is highly commendable. We are thrilled to find a new CAN leadership in the State of Osun extending the hand of fellowship to the state government.

It is a radical departure from the past and we sincerely hope this newly found rapport will continue. We must build more bridges across the divides in order to move the state forward and harmony among the various faiths is cardinal to this objective.

MURIC calls on Christian faithfuls in the State of Osun to support the Michael Okodu leadership in his bid to cooperate with the state government and return to the path of peaceful coexistence with the adherents of other faiths in the state.    

We charge Muslim leaders in the state to reciprocate in like manner. What the State of Osun needs presently is sensitive, responsible, visionary and pious religious leaders. Only thus can the dynamic steps being taken by the state government in the area of education and industry be fruitful.       

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

PRESS RELEASE: ARREST OF JUDGES: NO ROOM FOR SACRED COWS

10^th October, 2016,

PRESS RELEASE:

ARREST OF JUDGES: NO ROOM FOR SACRED COWS

Men of the Department of State Services (DSS) recently raided the homes of some Nigerian judges. Huge amounts of foreign and local currencies were seized and about seven judges are still in detention. The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) consequently issued a warning to boycott courts unless the judges are set free.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) welcomes the action taken by the Federal Government to curb corruption in the judiciary. Recent revelations have shown that judges collude with criminals and corrupt politicians to thwart efforts aimed at reducing the rate of crime and corruption. The judiciary as the last hope of the common man must be above board. Therefore the bad eggs must be dealt with.

We are deeply disturbed by the reaction of the NBA. Is this body telling us that judges are sacred cows? Are they above the law? Must we fold our arms while Nigerian judges corruptly enrich themselves and justice is made available only to the rich?

NBA must look around the world and tell us where judges are allowed to get away with dirty deals. India, China and Ghana are good examples. 867 Indian judges were arrested and punished for corrupt practices in 2011. Two other judges were arrested in India in 2014 for collecting money to settle cases in favour of the givers.

Just last year 2015, Xi Xiaoming, vice president of the Supreme People's Court of China was arrested for receiving money from litigants. China’s lawyers did not pull down the Chinese sky. But in Nigeria, NBA wants us to rain praises on corrupt judges.

In Ghana, about 34 judges were recently charged for corruption. Twenty of them were dismissed on December 8, 2015. Ghanaians did not celebrate the corrupt judges.

But in Nigeria, all hell is let loose each time somebody from our religion or tribe is facing corruption charges. The focus this time is quite saddening coming from a much revered profession, the law itself.

How on earth do Nigerians think corruption can be eliminated or reduced if we always want to defend the indefensible once he has the slightest affiliation to us? Or is it ghosts that have been stealing our money? The thief must belong somewhere. He will either be a Muslim, a Christian, a politician or a judge.

Our duty as a serious people is to leave the thief alone. Allow the anti-graft agents to do their job. It is disgusting that NBA has abused due process. They know the law. They know that a man (or a judge?) is assumed innocent until he is proved guilty. This has been a gospel preached by their members all over the place. Does it mean they don’t mean it?

Is it because the knife is now turned inwards? But this same knife has been used by lawyers and judges to cut millions of necks. Why is it that they now realize it is too sharp?

MURIC appeals to the NBA and all other stakeholders to allow justice to take its due course. We all pledged unalloyed support to the Federal Government’s war against corruption. Lets clean the Augean stable without let or hinderance. The time to do it is now.         

Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)