MURIC CONGRATULATES NEW MULAN PRESIDENT

 

8th May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

MURIC CONGRATULATES NEW MULAN PRESIDENT

— Calls for more collaboration between the two groups

An Islamic human rights advocacy group Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sent a congratulatory message to the newly emerged national president of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Barrister Sa'idu Muhammad Tudunwada.

In the congratulatory message, MURIC calls for more collaboration to combat crimes against Muslims, especially the worrisome and unabated abduction of Muslim minors, their identities changed and converted to Christianity by some Christian zealots across the Muslim dominated states in the north.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday, 6th May, 2024 by the chairman of Kano State Chapter of MURIC, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa.

Mr Indabawa said:

"We, at MURIC, rejoice with you and pray for a successful tenure believing that you will provide a proactive and excellent leadership.

"With your emergence as national President of MULAN, we believe, coupled with your vast experience, you will bring in far reaching changes that will impact positively on Muslim lawyers in Nigeria and the society at large.

"Being one of the most active members of MURIC in Kano, we believe there will now be more collaboration between the two groups, especially in areas of litigations that affect Nigerian Muslims and their fundamental human rights.

"We are even more concerned with cases that suffer neglect due to absence of Muslim lawyers in matters that affect Muslims. Such cases involved the unabated abduction of some Muslim minors and their conversion to Christianity by some Christian zealots but the cases usually suffer defeat due to lack of follow up and diligent prosecution.

"We look forward to having a synergy between MULAN and MURIC in close working relationship by supporting MURIC with services of Muslim lawyers and the consistent follow up on cases that are high profile with significant importance to the promotion and maintenance of peace and harmony of Nigeria.

"Many learned silk have been providing such support to MURIC, but a strong collaboration with MULAN could go a long way in ensuring considerable success in more cases.

"May Allah crown your efforts with astounding success, while believing to expect a paradigm shift by injecting active and profound leadership skills in the running of a new MULAN.

"Once again, congratulations, Mr President."

Mallam Hassan Sani Indabawa,

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Kano State Chapter

 

SHAKALA-SHOKOLO ANTICS: MURIC TELLS ADELEKE TO STOP DESECRATING ISLAM

 

6^th May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

SHAKALA-SHOKOLO ANTICS: MURIC TELLS ADELEKE TO STOP DESECRATING ISLAM

 

The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he is the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity. However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has countered the governor. 

 

In a statement circulated to the media on Monday, 6^th May, 2024 by the group’s executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC argued that nobody can be a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. The group insisted that Governor Adeleke is manifesting symptoms of personality crisis syndrome which often results in confusion in personal identity. The group also accused the governor of desecrating Islam with his shakala-shokolo antics.

 

The full statement reads:

 

"The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he was the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity.

 

"Adeleke made the declaration while answering questions at the second edition of the public enlightenment programme tagged 'Ipade Imole', held in Ilesa on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024.

 

"We are nonplussed by this declaration made by Governor Ademola Adeleke. It is egregious, odious, insidious and odoriferous. Nobody can be a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. It is either he is genuinely serious with one and hypocritical with the other, or he is playing Jekyll and Hyde with God Almighty whereas nobody can deceive God. 

 

“It is the height of hypocrisy for anyone to make such a claim. The group insisted that Governor Adeleke is manifesting symptoms of personality crisis syndrome which often  inarise from confusion in personal identity. Adeleke does not know who he is and where he belongs. Our governor needs the help of a psychologist.

 

"We are concerned because Adeleke is a public figure and the political leader in Osun state. We are aware that statements like this are capable of influencing the behaviour of ordinary Nigerians. The effect is likely to be mass emulation of the governor resulting in many citizens of Osun making similar declarations. 

 

"If other religions accept this behaviour, Islam never will. This is because Islam is a religion of high discipline. There is no room for rubbish in Islam. That is why the Glorious Qur'an says, 'Enter into Islam totally and categorically' (Qur'an 2:208).

 

"A true religion must not be like flashy products where you buy one and get another one free. Otherwise Adeleke should let Nigerians know which one he is paying for and which one he is buying free.

 

"Adeleke is a Yoruba man and he is not unaware of a Yoruba proverb which says, 'Bi o ba fe je Oshakala ki o je Oshakala, bi o ba si fe je Oshokolo ki o je Oshokolo, ewo ni Shakala Shokolo?' Meaning: if you want to be Oshakala, then be Oshakala and if you want to be Oshokolo, feel free to be Oshokolo, but which one is Shakala Shokolo? The governor’s behaviour contravenes the Omoluabi culture of the Yoruba people.

 

"We are aware that the governor bears both Muslim and Christian names: Nurudeen and Jackson. There is nothing wrong with that based on present circumstances in the land. But we cannot accept his claim to be following both faiths. Names are mere tags but not so with faith. There is something wrong with you if your faith runs riot. But who did this to Osun State?

 

"Of course a governor can 'identify' and 'empathise' with every religious group in his state. He is the father of all. But he should not go beyond that. He should not claim to believe in both as a follower. Such a claim is false, baseless and hypocritical.

 

"What Adeleke fails to understand is that MURIC is not saying that a governor must be a Muslim before the Muslims accept him. All we are asking for is fairness, justice and equity. A just Christian governor will enjoy the Muslims under him. It is only Christian rulers who marginalise Muslims and persecute them that we rise against. 

 

"Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bola Ige, etc were Christians who ruled in the South West in the past. Muslims did not reject them. Why is Adeleke jittery? 

 

"Adeleke made three unacceptable declarations in his speech. Firstly, he said he would soon become Alhaji and Prophet. Our position is that he is free to become a Christian prophet any time but he is going to make a caricature of himself the day he attempts to become an Alhaji. 

 

"Secondly, he claimed to be the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity. This is an illusion. Adeleke is living in the world of self-deceit. He may have been practicing Christianity but he does not practice Islam and he himself knows it. 

 

"Thirdly, the governor also said no religion would be neglected in the delivery of dividends of democracy. He can say that to the marines. Has he been practicing what he is now preaching? If so, was he not the same governor who appointed 17 Christians as commissioners but could only find 7 Muslims appointable? Has he not neglected Muslims?

"We advise the governor to stop playing hide and seek with his Creator. God is a Merciful Lord. He listens to all regardless of their creed, race, gender or colour. 

 

“Adeleke is insulting the collective intelligence of Muslims in Osun State. Even politicians do not accept those who exhibit divided loyalty. You are either inside or outside. There is nothing like one leg in, one leg out. Adeleke should stop desecrating the religion of Islam with his shakala-shokolo antics.”

 

#GovernorAdeleke

#ShakalaShokolo

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

NO TO US, FRENCH BASES IN NIGERIA – MURIC

 

5^th May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

NO TO US, FRENCH BASES IN NIGERIA – MURIC

 

As the debate on a proposed defence pact between Nigeria, the United States and France rages, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has kicked against any defence agreement between Nigeria and the two countries or siting of a military base by either of them anywhere on Nigerian soil. MURIC insists that Nigeria must not allow itself to be recolonised. 

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, 5^th May, 2024 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

 

"There are reports that a defence pact between Nigeria and the United States (US) on one hand and between Nigeria and France on the other is in the offing. This follows the expulsion of the Western powers from the Sahel region a few months ago. 

 

"Past and recent events around the world have proved that both countries (the US and France) are birds of the same feather in terms of self-interest, imperialist agenda and hegemonic goals which can never favour any African country. We therefore say clearly, emphatically and categorically that Nigeria should not sign any military pact with either of these two countries. Neither should they be allowed to set up any military base in our country.

 

"The economic exploitation, impoverisation and inhuman treatment of franco-phone countries by France, American gun-boat diplomacy around the globe as well as its latest role in funding, arming and protecting Israel in its genocidal killing of Palestinians and massive destruction of its infrastructure are more than enough raison d'etre for our position. On no account should American or French soldiers set their feet on Nigerian soil."

 

#NoToUSFrenchMilitaryBases

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

CLEAR DR AISHA: MURIC APPEALS TO EDUCATION MINISTRY

 

1^st May, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

CLEAR DR AISHA: MURIC APPEALS TO EDUCATION MINISTRY

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has waded into the case of Dr. Aisha Abana who studied medicine in China but was not cleared for national service. The group appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to give her clearance to pave way for her compulsory one year national service.

 

According to the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola who issued a press statement on the issue on Wednesday, 1st May, 2024, failure to clear the qualified medical doctor for the one year national service constitutes a humongous disservice to the nation. 

 

The full statement reads: 

 

"The Federal Ministry of Education has refused to clear a female graduate of medicine, Dr. Aisha Abana, who studied in China. We learnt that the Ministry is unwilling to clear her because her course was interrupted in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak as foreign students in Chinese tertiary institutions were asked to return to their countries and to continue their studies online. 

 

"Dr. Aisha had trained at the Jinzou Medical University, College of International Education, Jinzou, Liaoning, People's Republic of China from September 2016 to February 2020 when all foreign students were asked to return to their countries due to the outbreak of the dreaded Covid-19.

 

“She had spent three and a half years in the Chinese university. She continued her medical training online with the active participation of her university for one and a half year until she completed her course in medicine, did the mandatory one-year attachment that could be done either in China or Nigeria and was given approval to become a practicing doctor by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.  

 

“But she needed the evaluation and clearance of the Ministry of Education before she can proceed to the compulsory one-year national service and the ministry is not forthcoming due mainly to the one and a half year online training which her university arranged for her after the disruption of direct and physical classes by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

“We are deeply perturbed by the ministry’s refusal to give her clearance. Online classes are recognized throughout the world as valid and authentic education programmes. The case of an educational programme in China during the pandemic should not be the odd one out. Or, like the deniers of the holocaust, is the Nigerian Ministry of Education denying the Covid-19 pandemic?

 

“This decision smirks of sadism and addiction to a culture of waste. It is also symptomatic of the pull-them-down syndrome. Who did this to Nigeria? The government is complaining of shortage of medical personnel but here is the ministry charged with the responsibility of clearing medical graduates proving to Nigerians that it is neck-deep in red-tapism. Ainal- mafaru (Where do we go from here?).

 

“Our hearts bleed as we review statistical data of Nigerian medical doctors in the ‘japa’ syndrome. The facts stand in contradistinction to the issues surrounding the rejection of this eminently qualified medical doctor, Dr. Aisha Abana.

 

“Exempli gratia, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) lamented in 2021 that ‘less than half of the over 80,000 doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) were practising in the country, giving the country’s doctor-to-population ratio of between 1-4,000 and 1-5,000’.

 

“Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended one doctor to 600 people. But our own ratio is still one to 5,000. Yet the ministry wants to throw one medical doctor away!  

 

(See Ihua B, Nsofor I. Emigration of Nigerian medical doctors, survey report. https://noi-polls.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Emigration-of-Doctors-Press-Release-July-2018-Survey-Report.pdf).

 

“Unlike thousands of her colleagues who have sought greener pastures abroad, Dr. Aisha Abana wants to practice in Nigeria but Nigerian officials do not want her here. We ask again, who did this to Nigeria?  

 

“In 2014, the acute shortage of physicians in Nigeria, particularly in the North, led today’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to exhibit his Allah-given visionary leadership by sponsoring sixty (60) female students abroad to study medicine. They returned recently and they visited the vice president to register their appreciation. 50 of them are now working in Borno State hospitals. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/trained-doctors-are-back-in-borno-all-thanks-to-vp-shettima/).  

 

“Interestingly the ministry’s victim, Dr. Aisha Abana, is also from Borno State. She knows where the shoe pinches and she has decided to pitch her tent with her state and country. It is the height of patriotism. Why should the ministry deny her this right? Instead of despising her, she should be treated like the heroine she is.

 

“Unlike the 60 lucky female students sponsored by the Borno State government under VP Shettima as governor at that time, Aisha was single-handedly sponsored by her father who paid through his nose, toiling day and night. Why should such a father be denied the right to enjoy his labour in old age?

 

“MURIC salutes Dr. Aisha for her resilience, diligence and patriotism. Ditto for her father. We doff our hat to him; He is one of the most responsible fathers in Nigeria today. He deserves encomiums for daring all the odds to sponsor a female child to read medicine in a male-dominated environment where the female child is often seen as a marriage asset only.

 

“We charge the daughter to remain bold and to hold her head high. People like her are rare in this country. We assure her that she is not alone in her struggle to get integrated into the Nigerian society. We stand by her every inch of the way. Solidarity forever!

 

“The perceived discrepancy between the year of graduation, the expiration date of her passport and exit from China hold no water. How can the year of her graduation, the expiration date of her passport and her exit from China rhyme when we all know that she left China before graduating?  

 

“These are irrelevant issues that have no bearing on the issue at stake. It is like a public bus driver refusing to take a passenger because the latter did not come with his pet dog. What has the passenger’s pet dog got to do with the driver’s job? Was Dr. Aisha querried by the Chinese or Nigerian immigrations? Why should the ministry leave the tangential for the peripheral?

 

“For the avoidance of any doubt, we affirm our commitment to the promotion of girl-child education and we will leave no stone unturned where the girl-child is being denied her right to enjoy the fruits of her education and hardwork.

 

“In particular, we reaffirm our interest, not only in the increase in the number of female medical doctors but in their geometric proliferation across the country.  It is well known that Islam teaches that females should be touched only by females and vice versa. More female doctors in our hospitals will promote this tenet. The more female medical doctors in Nigeria, whether Muslims or Christians, the better for us. This is where the ministry’s refusal to clear Dr. Aisha Abana touched a cord in MURIC’s anatomy.

 

“We appeal to the Ministry of Education to review the case of Dr. Aisha. Failure to clear her will be a disservice to her state in particular and to Nigeria in general. It is unpopular ‘benching’, pernicious redundancy, sheer wastage and acrobatic red-tapism. Failure to accredit her will vindicate skilled Nigerians who migrate to other countries. At that point, accusing fingers will be pointed at Nigerian officials for instigating mass migration of talented youths.

 

“For microscopic clarity, we are not asking the ministry to put the cart before the horse. Neither are we asking it to break any rules. MURIC stands for due process. We supported this same Ministry of Education in the case of fake degrees from Togo, Republic of Benin, etc in January 2024 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/muric-hails-fgs-suspension-of-degrees-from-benin-togo/) but the case of Dr. Aisha is another cup of tea.

 

“Nigeria cannot afford to waste a medical graduate who is willing to serve her country, when thousands of Nigerian doctors have swallowed the ‘japa’ pill and there are no doctors to attend to the sick. It is unwise, uncharitable, unprofessional and unpatriotic. Therefore, it is unacceptable. Dr. Aisha Abana should be cleared if there is no hidden agenda. We remain oppressed until the Ministry of Education does the needful.”

 

#MinistryOfEducation

#ClearDrAishaAbana

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

PRESERVE THE NORTH/SOUTH-WEST ACCORD – MURIC

 

27^th April, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

PRESERVE THE NORTH/SOUTH-WEST ACCORD – MURIC  

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on all stakeholders in the North/South-West accord which produced the current Muslim-Muslim ticket to ensure its preservation. The Islamic human rights organization spoke on Saturday, 27^th April, 2024 through its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“Recent developments in the political arena tend to indicate cracks in the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp. The situation requires political sagacity and emotional maturity.

“MURIC wishes to reiterate that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is the best thing ever to happen in the Nigerian political history since 1966 as it constitutes a strong and reassuring handshake across the Niger. There is no other existing alliance in the current political architecture that guarantees the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria better than this.

“We remind the major stakeholders in the accord to talk less, act with caution and continue to work for the success of the Tinubu/Shettima administration. They must not forget that the anti-Muslim-Muslim ticket camp remains active, divisive, vengeful and lethal. The alliance must therefore avoid collateral damages.

“We appeal to major actors both at state and national levels to desist from taking actions or making statements capable of jeopardizing the chances of the handshake across the Niger in 2027 or likely to expose any of the main actors to unnecessary distraction and dissipation of energy.”

#MuslimMuslimTicket

#SustainNorthSouthWestAccord

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

REBUILD, RETURN MOSQUE CONVERTED TO MARKET – MURIC

 

24^th April, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

REBUILD, RETURN MOSQUE CONVERTED TO MARKET – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the conversion of a mosque to a market in Mangu, Plateau State. The group said the action amounts to bidding farewell to peace in the zone. 

This was stated in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 24th April, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

The full statement reads:

"The Bungha Dawo Jumu'ah Mosque in Mangu Local Government has been forcefully converted into a market place after it's destruction by Mwaghavul Christian militia. Reports say the abominable action was taken by the Dawo District authorities. 

"MURIC condemns this action in very strong terms. It is extreme, provocative and belligerent. It is tantamount to bidding farewell to peace. 

"By converting an existing mosque to a market place, the district authorities have declared to Muslims in the zone in particular and the rest of Nigeria in general, that they do not want any cordial relationship with Muslims at all. 

"The destruction and forceful conversion of this mosque brings to mind the five evils that Chamberlain spoke about: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. 

"MURIC calls the attention of the Nigerian government and the general public to this brutish act of aggression, particularly those who have been blaming Muslims of Plateau State for the endless violence going on in the state.

 

“We urge the state governor, political leaders and elders in the zone to intervene. Already, a Muslim group in the zone has demanded that the mosque should be rebuilt and handed back to the Muslims. We support this position. The desecration of a mosque anywhere in the world should not be trivialized.

“The destruction and conversion of the mosque to a market constitutes a blatant encroachment on the fundamental human rights of Muslims and a threat to freedom of worship in the area. It is also a dangerous precedent which must not be allowed to become a point of reference.”

#NoToConversionofMosqueToMarket

#RebuildReturnMosque

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: EMULATE JAMB

 

22^nd April, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: EMULATE JAMB

Overzealous officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) who harassed an hijab-wearing candidate have been sanctioned by the examination body. Meanwhile notable Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on government agencies to emulate JAMB in fairness, promptness, transparency, probity and accountability.

MURIC’s call came in a brief statement circulated on Monday, 22^nd April, 2024 by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The full statement reads:

“The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has announced that it has sanctioned some overzealous officials of the examination body who harassed an hijab-wearing candidate, Aisha Tiamiyu, on Friday, 19^th April, 2024, during this year’s matriculation examination at Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, Ejigbo, Lagos State.

“Aisha Tiamiyu was asked to remove her hijab and she was not allowed to enter the examination hall because she refused to do so. Officials yelled at her and intimidated her. She caved in after realizing that she had lost a large chunk of the critical starting period.

“But reprieve came her way when JAMB authorities reacted to reports of a newspaper which published her travails at the examination centre on Saturday (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2024/04/21/lagos-center-stops-hijab-wearing-students-as-utme-commences/#google_vignette). According to the authorities, the officials responsible for the candidate’s torment have been identified and dealt with according to the rules (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2024/04/21/2024-utme-jamb-responds-to-muslim-news-report-sanctions-officials-over-harassment-of-hijab-wearing-candidate/).

“This swift reaction from JAMB is reassuring and we call on all government agencies to emulate JAMB in fairness, promptness, transparency, probity and accountability. Religious violence will become a thing of the past if all parties experience fair treatment and receive swift attention.

“Imagine how peaceful Nigeria will be if all government agencies address public grievances the way JAMB attended to the incident at the examination centre. JAMB acted swiftly and sanctioned the erring officials within 24 hours. It is record-breaking. Justice and equity will fill the land and Nigerians will have a true sense of belonging which, in turn, will boost patriotism across the country if all government agencies do this.

“This incident shows that it is not Nigerian institutions that discriminate against Muslims in the country. It is individuals who have personality crisis as they cannot divulge their personal religious belief from their official jobs. It is non-Muslims who carry their Islamophobia to their workplaces who are responsible for most cases of persecution of Muslims.

“Some have resolved to use their official positions to serve their faith only, to deny Muslims their rights and to subject Muslims who appear before them to horror. Such disposition is often the product of hate sermons. The video clips of sermons of some religious clerics which went viral confirm this.

“MURIC appeals to JAMB to give special and compassionate consideration to the case of the victim in this particular incident. Whereas the officials at the examination centre acted ultra vires by asking her to remove her hijab, the period of stereotyping the candidate ate deeply into the time given for the examination. The poor candidate was not allowed to enter the examination hall and she lost almost thirty minutes in the process.

 

“This is what Muslim-haters subject Muslim candidates to in examination centres. Precious time is often lost when Muslims try to assert their rights and the oppressors refuse to shift ground. Meanwhile the authorities will only hear about this act of tyranny after the examination is over.

 

“It is our considered opinion that the scripts of such innocent victims should be set aside somewhere for a second look after the first assessment. Considering the time lost due to no fault of the victim as well as the psychological trauma to which the candidate had been subjected which unsettled him or her and made it impossible to properly situate him or herself in an atmosphere conducive for writing an examination, we appeal to JAMB authorities to give the scripts of such candidates special treatments as deemed necessary.

 

“We charge religious leaders to preach peace, love, tolerance and forgiveness. We urge Nigerians to develop a sense of justice and fairness. We must learn to give people their rights regardless of their religious leaning. Those who deny people their rights cannot expect to enjoy peace, the former is fundamental, the latter, conditional.”

#EmulateJAMB

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).