Deborah Samuel: Bring Perpetrators To Justice – Muslim Group Tells FG

Muslim United for Peace and Justice (MUPJ) a group committed to peaceful coexistence and justice in Nigeria, has added its voice to condemn the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto.

The group described her death as ” dastardly murder which Islam doesn’t support”.

In a press conference on Sunday, the group under the leadership of Prof. Lakin Akintola Executive director, Muslim Rights Concern MURIC noted the alleged crime of blasphemy and the graphic murder of the young lady is not without precedence.

” We, therefore, come together today, as leaders of Muslim organizations, to amplify the voice of condemnation by other Muslim leaders, most notably the Sultan, Muhammadu Abubakar, against the dastardly murder of Deborah Samuel. We call for swift and transparent justice against her killers.”

According to the group, the tragic event of the murder of Deborah can be utilized as a turning point in Muslim-Christian relations, and herald a new era of peaceful and respectful coexistence.

The group said these are achievable ideals if each religious adherents will embrace and sincerely practice the sublime messages of their faith.

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” We condemn every act of insult and provocation along religious and ethnic fault lines. In particular, we condemn in an equal measure any insults, abuse, denigration or mischievous attacks against any and all prophets of God, be it Muhammad (SAW), Jesus, Moses, Abraham, or any other (peace be on them all).”

” We call for deep introspection by leaders of the Christian community and urge them to employ all means to fend off intolerance. We urge governments of all the States of the Federation to strengthen or promulgate (where none exists) laws to criminalize blasphemy, and killing for blasphemy outside the law, and faithfully enforce them.”

” We urge Muslim scholars to issue fatwah specifically against frontier justice, jungle justice and extrajudicial killing at any time. Moreso, we appeal to Imams to use the Friday khutbah to spread and promote the peaceful coexistence, respect for constituted authority and rule of law, as enjoined in Islam.”

The group urged urge leaders of faiths to continue to enlighten and educate adherents on the need for mutual respect, to focus on messages of love, and work against voices of hatred and extremism amongst them.