US ALLEGATION: TRUMP, US PURSUING THE CRUSADE - MURIC

 

14^th December, 2020

                

PRESS RELEASE:

US ALLEGATION: TRUMP, US PURSUING THE CRUSADE - MURIC

      

The United States recently accused Nigeria of violating religious rights. Consequently, it placed the country on religious freedom blacklist. The Christian Association of Nigeria has backed the US claim of religious persecution. Although the Federal Government (FG) has denied the allegation, the Nigerian Islamic human rights body, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the controversy.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, 14^th December, 2020 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described President Trump as a man who is too eager to swallow any lie against any Muslim leader because of his gymnastic pursuit of a Christian crusade. The group argued that contrary to the claim that Christians are being persecuted in the country, it is actually the Muslims who are at the receiving end of religious discrimination.

 

The statement reads:

 

“We are nonplussed by the recent allegation of violation of religious rights made by the United States against Nigeria. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. By the way, what is the US record of respecting the religious rights of Muslims around the world?

 

 

“All pieces of evidence point at the US heading a Westo-Christian crusade against Muslim leaders and Muslim countries around the globe. Where is the weapon of mass destruction (WMD) for which the US and its allies invaded Iraq? Why is the US still occupying Afghanistan? What has been the outcome of US propaganda against Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi? Why is Syria at war?

 

 

“Why has the US imposed long-standing sanctions against Iran when Israel already has nuclear facilities which Iran is equally and rightly pursuing? Is that not double standard? The US has no moral right to preach righteousness to anybody. It is bare-faced interference and outright arrogance.

 

 

“Why are Muslim nations always on the list of US sanctions? Is it not for the purpose of retarding their progress while Western countries continue to rise? The US labelled hundreds of Islamic charity organisations as terrorist groups, froze their assets and forbade Islamic countries from remitting funds abroad to support Islamic organisations. But the same US allows the funding of Christian groups in Africa (particulalrly in Nigeria) with millions of dollars from within its borders. Is that fair?

 

 

MURIC also accused CAN of deliberately lying about the situation in the country.

 

“As for CAN’s lie that 95% of heads of security agencies in Nigeria are Muslims, we are not surprised because deceit is not only in the character of CAN, it is in its DNA. CAN deliberately ignored the federal cabinet where Christians have 20 while Muslims are only 18 and this is a government under a Muslim president. CAN is mischievious. CAN is insatiable. CAN will continue to deceive the world that Christians are marginalised until all positions are filled with Christians only and until Muslims are forced to eat from crusts under the table. Our neighbour’s middle name has long been known as ‘deception’.

 

 

“That was why a pastor in Osun State instructed his followers to disguise as Boko Haram and to invade his own church. The body of a Muslim army general was dumped inside a deep well in Plateau State but Christian women demonstrated half naked to prevent soldiers from conducting searches. Plateau State government later apologised on behalf of its Christian population. Three Christians from Southern Kaduna disguised as Fulani herdsmen to cause mayhem for which they intend to later hang on the necks of Muslims. Why must any religious leader lead his men with lies?

 

 

“We challenge CAN to give us one instance when Muslims made a single false claim. We do not disguise as Christians to commit atrocities. Our claims are always verifiable. We always come clean. This is why scientists, intellectuals, great thinkers, renowned musicians and other men of timber, calibre and caterpillar often convert to Islam after comparing notes.

 

 

“CAN’s claim of religious discrimination is false, baseless and unfounded. With General Gabriel Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ibot-ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff, AVM Monday Riku Morgan as Chief of Defence Intelligence, how can CAN talk of 95% of service chiefs being Muslims?

 

 

“In retrospect and for the purpose of comparison, all army chiefs of staff under Obasanjo, a Christian leader, were Christians but CAN was silent at that time (Lt. Gen. Victor Malu, Lt. Gen. Alexander Ogomudia, Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, Lt. Gen. Andrew Azazi and Lt. Gen. Luka). Four out of the five Chiefs of Defence Staff under Obasanjo were Christians, i.e 80% were Christians while only 20% was Muslim. Also, all his three chiefs of naval staff were Christians (Ombu, Afolayan and Adekeye). So were all the three chiefs of air staff (Isaac, Jonah and Paul or are these Muslim names?). Yet the Muslims did not shout marginalization at that time.

 

“Contrary to the claim that Christians are being persecuted in Nigeria, it is Muslims who are at the receiving end. The whole world heard when a female Muslim law graduate, Firdaus Amasa, was disallowed from being called to bar simply because she wore an hijab which is her Muslim identity. She was made to forfeit a whole year for being a Muslim. Millions of Muslim students suffer from religious persecution in the hands of Nigerian Christian teachers. Muslim graduates are denied employment on account of their faith.

 

 

“To cap the edifice, CAN ensures that its agents in the government ministries and agencies deprive Muslims of enjoying public facilities and civic rights like national identity cards and international passports once they insist on maintaining their Islamic identity. In many states of Southern Nigeria, female Muslims are disallowed from studying courses like medicine and nursing because of their Islamic appearance. Muslim males are compelled to shave their beards and remove their caps and turbans in many public institutions. Muslims are stereotyped, marginalized, persecuted and oppressed in the whole of Southern Nigeria. We are told to go to Sokoto or Maiduguri if we want to enjoy Allah-given fundamental human rights. Paradoxically and characteristically, it is CAN, our relentless oppressor, who is now shedding crocodile tears.

 

 

“We expect the US to know better but it continues to wilfully and knowingly pin fictitious crimes on Muslim leaders. It is our contention that President Trump is picking on President Muhammadu Buhari because the latter is a Muslim. It is religious stigmatisation. It is scapegoatism. We assert that Nigeria is a sovereign country and not the 51^st state of America. We therefore demand respect for the territorial integrity of our land. The US should desist from interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs.

 

 

“President Donald Trump is too eager to swallow CAN’s lies, hook, line and sinker. Fortunately the world now realises who we are dealing with. It is becoming clearer day by day particularly in the wake of the US election that Trump is a man already drowned in the sea of fantasies. A bully, a fake democrat and a totalitarian dictator has taken America for a ride. The only relief today is that we know Trump does not represent America. At least true democrats have proved that they can maintain the American standard.  

 

 

MURIC called on African countries to impose sanctions on Trump and his close allies for their role during the 2020 American elections.

 

 

“Trump and his boot-lickers and court-jesters should be sanctioned by African countries for their despicable role during the 2020 US elections. Trump has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he is the grandfather of all bad loosers. We urge African countries to marshall a number of sanctions against Trump and his key supporters, including, but not limited to, denial of entry visas. Afterall, the US would have been screaming blue murder if what happened during the US election had occurred in an African country.

 

 

“The true picture of CAN will become clearer when we remember how some Nigerian Christians went on a rally for Trump’s victory during the US elections and a Nigerian politician noted for hating Muslims insisted a few days ago that Trump would be sworn in for the second term.

 

 

“In spite of America’s involvement in the modern crusade, we acknowledge the fact that the average American is a decent and humane person. He is definitely not part of the atrocities of the American system against Muslims around the globe. We salute these noble citizens. We affirm our belief in the essence of humanity. Love moves the world, not hatred. Religion should not be the criterion.

 

 

“To this end, we extend our hands of fellowship to men and women around the globe who share our values of human dignity, love and peaceful coexistence. We condemn all forms of violence, be it religious, ethnic or political. We strongly denounce terrorism in particular. We reject the tortuous tantrums of religious bigots and haters of homo sapien who incite people to violence and order the killing of people of Western origin. We hold firmly, clearly and categorically that life is sacred and no man born of a woman has the right to order killings.

 

 

“We aver that Trump is a drowning man who is desperately clutching at every single thread he can grab. He has picked on Nigeria once again just to show that he is still relevant. We advise Trump to leave Nigeria alone. He should face the reality of the crushing defeat inflicted on him by the democrats. The game is up”.

 

 

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

 

 

COVID-19: RESTRICT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS NOW - MURIC

 

3^rd December, 2020

                

PRESS RELEASE:

COVID-19: RESTRICT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS NOW - MURIC

      

Following reports worldwide indicating a second coming of the dreaded Corona virus, the Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) to restrict international flights immediately.

 

 

This was contained in a press statement issued by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, 3^rd December, 2020.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“The second coming of COVID-19 is definitely more severe. According to Wikipedia, the deadly virus has killed 1.49 million people globally. 64.2 million have been infected while 41.2 million have recovered from the pandemic. As at yesterday, Wednesday, 2^nd December, 2020, the United States topped the list of the toll with 279,049 deaths and 14.2 million cases. At least 200,000 people are infected daily in the US while daily new deaths are close to 3,000. Brazil has lost 174,000 people so far while India lost 138,000 to the pandemic (www.worldometers.info).

 

 

“We recall that the first index case of COVID-19 in Nigeria which was reported on 27^th February, 2020 came in from Italy. A second case was reported within two weeks of the first in Ewekoro, Ogun State on 9^th March, 2020. All hell broke loose soon after and the country came under lockdown for about three months with dire consequences. The current economic recession is one of the fallouts.

 

 

“Nigeria should not allow a return of the deadly pandemic. In view of the increase in its spread in the United States, France, Britain, etc, the Federal Government (FG) should act now before it is too late. International passengers troop into the country on a daily basis and there has been no report of quarantines. All passengers have been allowed to come into the country. We believe this is not good enough.

 

 

“MURIC therefore calls on FG to immediately put restrictions on passengers and crews on international flights. This may be in form of COVID-19 protocols like isolation and quarantine where necessary. We have also observed that intending passengers at the local airports have not been practicing social distancing despite the fact that the airport authorities have provided guidelines and facilities for it. In particular, passengers on queue at the ticket counters have not strictly adhered to it. Airport authorities are advised to enforce COVID-19 protocol at all points.

 

 

“The Muslim Rights Concern is not only concerned with Allah-given fundamental human rights of Nigerian Muslims, we are equally concerned about the safety of every Nigerian regardless of their faith or ethnicity. #Nigerian lifematters.”

 

 

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

 

 

 

LEVERAGE ON WORKFREE FRIDAY IN BENUE - MURIC

 

23^rd November, 2020

 

PRESS RELEASE:

LEVERAGE ON WORKFREE FRIDAY IN BENUE - MURIC

      

The government of Benue State has approved Friday as a workfree day. This is one of the measures aimed at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 in the state. However, the measure is to run for three months only, from 6^th November, 2020 to 29^th January, 2021. This is to enable civil servants in the state to harvest their farm products during the period (https://www.akelicious.net/benue-state-govt-approves-fridays-as-work-free-day/)

 

 

In its reaction to the development, the Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which has been in the forefront of the campaign for a workfree Friday, has welcomed the three-month moratorium. MURIC described it as a half measure and a temporary relief for workers in Benue State. In addition, the group called on Northern governors and legislators to leverage on the directive by declaring workfree Friday throughout the year. MURIC’s observation came on Monday, 23^rd November, 2020 through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

According to MURIC, “The hypocrisy of Muslim-haters has been exposed by the action of the Benue State government. Our critics claim that there would be confusion if Friday is declared a workfree day. But a whole state has gone ahead to declare the day free and heaven has not fallen in Makurdi. Though the state government’s intention has nothing to do with allowing Muslims to worship, it has served as a reference point. What it implies is that a workfree Friday is possible if the political will is there.

 

 

“The onus is therefore on Northern governors and legislators to set the ball rolling. If the Benue State governor can issue a directive to declare Friday free for three months to promote a bumper harvest, Northern governors and legislators have every reason to leverage on that by introducing workfree Friday bills in their houses of assembly which the governors can pass into law.

 

 

“The freedom of Nigerian Muslims is in the hands of their political leaders. Nobody is going to set them free until they are ready to break the shackles with their own hands. What is good for agricultural bumper harvest is good for robust spiritual fulfilment. It is also a wakeup call for Muslim the youth to go into politics in large number. The destiny of nations is shaped by politicians. Muslims who fail to participate in politics will be ruled by politicians who hate Muslims.

 

 

“MURIC calls on Nigerian Muslims to open their eyes very wide. Muslim families are scattered like wild oats every Friday. The father is working in the office while the mother is teaching in a school at a distant location. The children are learning in separate schools. The Muslim family cannot attend the same mosque together on Friday. Meanwhile Christian families go to the same church together and listen to the same sermon on Saturday and Sunday. This situation has far-reaching effects on spiritual development.

 

 

“What MURIC is saying in essence is that Nigerian Muslims are seriously shortchanged in the system and there is need for redress. The Northern states where Muslims are in overwhelming majority must wake up to this reality. The Federal Government (FG) is not ready to listen even though we have been on this campaign since 1993 when the director of MURIC published his 135-page book

Entitled ‘The Friday Question’.

 

 

“It is also a potential area of interest whenever FG is ready for restructuring. The gross imbalance in the recognition of days of worship for Christians and Muslims must be addressed under restructuring. Those who are clamouring for restructuring should take note because restructuring must not be selective. It is supposed to address lopsidedness in all facets of the Nigerian life.

 

 

“A system that gives Christians two days (Saturday for Seventh Day Adventists and Sunday for other Christians) but gives nothing to the Muslims cannot be described as fair or just. It is a contravention of the law of natural justice. Two out of seven days per week for Christians and nothing for Muslims is grossly unfair. Mathematicians should put that together. It means Nigerian Christians are given 104 days out of 365 days of every year to worship their God. That is a whopping 28.57%! But the Muslims are given nothing. Yet our neighbours shout to high heaven that Nigeria is Islamised and the cry of ‘Islamisation’ rents the air.

 

“Islamisation my foot!”

 

 

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

 

SUIT AGAINST ARABIC SIGN OF ACROBATIC RELIGIOUSITY

 

16^th November, 2020

 

PRESS RELEASE:

SUIT AGAINST ARABIC SIGN OF ACROBATIC RELIGIOUSITY

      

The Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the suit challenging the Arabic inscription on the Nigerian currency (naira) as acrobatic religiousity. MURIC made the assertion on Monday, 16^th November, 2020 while responding to a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo. MURIC’s statement was issued by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

Omirhobo argued that the Arabic inscription on naira notes portray Nigeria as an Islamic state contrary to the country’s constitutional status of a secular state. The lawyer also filed a similar suit against the Nigerian Army seeking the removal of Arabic inscriptions from its logo. The cases are being heard before Justice Mohammed Liman at the Lagos High Court. (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/10/cbn-opposes-suit-to-remove-arabic-inscriptions-from-banknotes/)

 

 

 

But according to MURIC, “Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve, it is pedestrian and kindergarten. This suit against Arabic on naira manifests acute desertification of religious tolerance, exhibition of undiluted acrobatic religiousity, NAFDAC-registered gymnastic spirituality and Oxford cum Harvard-certificated ignorance.

 

 

“How many times do we need to tell our Christian neighbours that Nigeria is not a secular but a multi-religious state. A secular state is one that does not recognize religion as in communist states. But Nigeria recognizes all the religions in the country and the Constitution also begins with the words ‘under God’. Secular states do not recognize the existence of God.

 

 

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 says inter alia at its very beginning, ‘We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: having firmly and solemnly resolved : to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign Nation under God…’ So how can Nigeria be a secular state when we are ‘under God’? In addition, nowhere in the whole constitution was the word ‘secular’ ever used and we challenge anyone who can find that word from the constitution to mention the chapter, section and sub-section.

 

 

“Seeking to remove Arabic from the naira is the height of ignorance because Arabic is just a language like English or French, not a religion. By the way, what is on the naira is not even Arabic. It is ‘Ajami’ using Arabic letters as a form of transliteration. Even if Omirhobo single-handedly succeeds in removing Arabic from the naira, is he going to remove the numerals 5, 10, 100, 1000 indicating the denominations as well? If he cannot, then he still has a long way to go because even those numbers are Arabic.

 

 

“The numerical system (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) were invented by a Muslim mathematician by name Alkhawarizmi (died 850) in the 9^th century. Nay and more than that. Whereas ancient Greeks had men like Plato, Aristotle, Euclide, Thales, Theodocius, etc whose scientific theories only managed to survive their times and Europe boasts today of scholars like Nicholas Copernicus, Francis Bacon, Galileo Galilei, Rene Descartes and Isaac Newton with their moribund and Godless postulates, the list of renowned Muslim scientists is endless.

 

 

“The truth is that religious fanatics have grown paranoia about Islam and they arrogate the Arabic language to the religion alone whereas this is not true. Their hatred for Islam and the Muslims is transferred to the Arabic language. This transferred aggression beclouded their perspicacity to the extent that they fail to realize that Islam is not synonymous with Arabic language.

 

 

“For instance, Israel’s currency has Arabic inscription on it. Nigerian Christians who go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem every year spend Israel’s money and see Arabic on it. Did they tear it into pieces in anger? They did not ask the Israeli authorities to remove the Arabic on their currency but when they return to Nigeria they maintain their hardline opposition to Arabic on naira. Where is objectivity? Is this not articulated religiousity?

 

 

“Again, hardly would any imported electronic gadget enter Nigeria without its manual containing an Arabic section. That is business sense, not religion. But Muslim-haters are swayed by emotion and they cannot separate the wheat from the chaff. Common sense is not so common. Of course there are still Christians who are moderate, liberal and realistic. They are the few exceptions who will not allow themselves to be led by the nose.

 

 

“One major argument against the removal of Arabic from the naira is that a large percentage of the Nigerian population will be cut off from our monetary system if Arabic is removed from the naira because Arabic is one of the local languages in Nigeria. It is used by the Shuwa Arabs in Borno State. Therefore Arabic cannot be a foreign language.

 

 

“Furthermore, the Bible used by Christians in Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Libya, Syria and other Arab countries are printed in Arabic language only because that is the only language they understand. Does that make the Bible an Islamic Bible? Their church services are conducted in Arabic. Have those churches become mosques?

 

 

“Interestingly enough, God is called Allah in the Arabic Bible. If Arab Christians want to say ‘God is great’, they also say ‘Allahu Akbar’. To thank God they say ‘alhamdulilah’ just like Muslims. The population of Palestine is 12 million and 7% (about 840,000) of this number are Christians. Yet the language of this 7% is Arabic. Perhaps Omirhobo will like to apply to the International Court at the Hagues to reject them as Christians because they speak Arabic?

 

 

“Omirhobo’s argument that Arabic on naira notes portrays Nigeria as an Islamic state holds no water because if Arabic is Islam, then English is Christianity. Hence if Arabic on the naira note is Islamisation, non-Arabic letters on the same naira is Christianisation. By extension, if the use of Arabic is Islamisation, the use of English language in Nigeria, particularly as a lingua franca, is the mother of all christianisation.

 

 

“For equity, therefore, Nigeria should have two official languages: Arabic and English with priority and emphasis in that alphabetical order. But in their magnanimity, tolerance and wisdom, Nigerian Muslims have not come forward to demand that Arabic should be Nigeria’s second official language. For that reason alone, the plaintiff’s request for the removal of Arabic from the naira is frivolous, petty, selfish, myopic and parochial.

 

“Perhaps the plaintiff thinks Nigerian Muslims were the ones who initiated the inscription of Arabic on both the army badge and the naira notes. Omirhobo needs to be told that even the colonial masters inscribed Arabic on the currency printed by Britain and used in Nigeria. The words: ‘pound daya’, i.e. one pound was inscribed on colonial currency. Omirhobo may therefore need to sue the Queen of England.

 

 

“To continue along the lanes of history, it was not even Nigerian Muslim leaders who brought the idea of Arabic in the Nigerian currency in post-independence Nigeria. The man who initiated it was a Christian, a Urhobo officer by name General David Akpode Ejoor (rtd). He was the one who introduced the Arabic inscription and the Star emblem into the Nigeria Army crest. He was given the assignment and research led him to pick the Arabic words ‘nasrun minallahi’ (meaning ‘victory is from God’) and a committee made up of three ministers of the First Republic : Muhammadu Ribadu (Defence), Festus Okotie-Eboh (Finance) and Yar'adua (Works and Housing) approved his choice. Ejoor confirmed this in his book ‘Reminiscences’ (page 16).

 

 

“The Christian who took the Central Bank of Nigeria to court claiming the country has been Islamized because of the Arabic inscription on the naira note failed to see how heavily Nigeria has been Christianized by observing Saturday as a public holiday because of the Seventh Day Adventists and Sunday because of other Christians. But the Muslims are not given any day at all.  

 

 

“MURIC appeals to Nigerians not to allow the fear mongers and merchants of hate continue to spread fear and sow discord among us. Many of those saddled with the task of uniting us have become instruments of division. Ex-President Jonathan is an example. He removed Arabic from the naira because he listened to hate preachers whom he took along on his futile but numerous trips to Jerusalem. They indoctrinated him into believing that Arabic on the naira implies Islamisation. Although he saw Arabic on Israeli currency on his trips to Jerusalem, yet he swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker. Of course it cost him his much-coveted second term because his action had been rightly interpreted as anti-Muslim.

 

 

“We charge Nigerians to open up their minds in order to avoid becoming victims of accidental civilisation or, worse still, educated illiterates. Arabic is not Islam and Islam is not Arabic. One is a language, the other is a religion. Let us learn to understand, to tolerate, to give, to forgive and to love.”

 

 

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