18th
June, 2019
ADELEKE UNIVERSITY
PERSECUTING MUSLIM STUDENTS
The Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC) has accused Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, of persecuting
Muslim students in the institution. According to the Islamic human rights organization,
the private tertiary institution is serially violating the fundamental human rights
of Muslim students in the institution.
This was disclosed
in a press statement circulated on Tuesday, 18th June, 2019 by the
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“Adeleke University is a serial violator of Allah-given
fundamental rights of Muslim students. This institution forces Muslim students
to attend church on Sundays. It makes it mandatory for students living in the
hostel to attend church every Wednesday and Saturday.
“The practice of any
other faith on campus except Christianity is banned. Muslim students must not
be seen observing Salat. Hijab is a taboo in Adeleke University. Yet all these
Islamophobic practices are smartly hidden from prospective students of the
institution until they have paid the exorbitant school fees and can no longer
withdraw.
“We call on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to
come to the rescue of Muslim students in Adeleke University. It is a religious
scam. This institution hides under a non-religious nomenclature to ensnare
Muslim students into an enclave of religious apartheid.
“In particular, we invite NUC to take a look at the
students’ handbook of this institution, especially pages 7, 49, 50, 56 and 60.
These pages, to our mind, contain rules that infringe on the religious freedom
of Muslim students. As a regulating body, NUC has a duty to intervene in this
matter as part of its oversight function on Nigeria’s universities.
“Such intervention
is necessary at this juncture to enhance quality control. We remind NUC that
man is body, soul and spirit. These three organs must function without
hinderance for students to perform maximally. As things stand today, Muslim students of
Adeleke University have been deprived of the spiritual component of their
humanity. We therefore call on NUC to investigate this issue as a matter of
urgency. Religious repression is a potential threat to peace, law and order.
“MURIC is aware that
such practices of religious intolerance exist in a few other private universities.
We therefore advise Muslim parents and Muslim students to take necessary
precaution. They should investigate very well before picking universities of
interest.
“Many private universities do not bear Christian names
but they pursue Christian evangelical goals. Worse still, they lack the spirit
of tolerance. Muslim candidates who have already chosen private universities
where they are likely to become victims of Islamophobia are, therefore, advised
to apply for a change of university before it is too late.
“Western education
was the weapon used by the British colonialists to coerce Muslims into converting
to Christianity in the past. The new trick is to use private universities to
achieve the same aim or to compromise willing staff of public universities to
do the dirty job. It is neocolonialism pure and simple.
“The children of
Muslim victims of religious oppression under the colonialists are today the
targets of apartheid private universities. Those who oppressed the father when
he was in school are bent on persecuting the children. This is the gospel
according to the slave-driver. This vicious cycle must be halted at all cost.
“As we draw the
curtain, we warn that private and public institutions where Muslim students are
denied their Allah-given fundamental human rights are sitting on kegs of
gunpowder. We call on NUC to investigate this allegation of religious
persecution in Adeleke University, Ede and take appropriate action if found
culpable. It will serve as a deterrent for other neo-imperialists masquerading
as higher institutions.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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