2023-11-01 19:22:19
The case of young Christian university student Deborah Emmanuel, who was lynched at college by Muslim classmates who accused her of blasphemy, caught the attention of the UN, which sent a letter to the Nigerian government demanding measures to prevent new similar cases in the future.
Young Deborah Emmanuel studied at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, in Sokoto state, and was accused of blasphemy against Muhammad in a message on a students’ WhatsApp group. Muslim colleagues lynched and burned his body no campus from the university on May 12, 2022.
The UN sent a letter to the Nigerian government, talking about the case, but as the document was not responded to within 60 days, the entity that brings together nations published the document, which expresses “total concern” about the circumstances of the woman’s death. university and the apparent police negligence and lack of accountability for criminals.
The document also refers to the arrest of Christian doctor Rhoda Jatau, in Bauchi State, who was also accused of blasphemy against Muhammad. The UN condemns the fact that she is still imprisoned “for what appears to be her mere peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief”.
“More broadly, we express concern about the criminalization of blasphemy in Nigeria, contrary to international human rights laws and standards, and the increasing episodes of violence related to accusations of blasphemy against religious minorities in Nigeria, through mob attacks and murders”, adds the document, according to information from the portal Christian Today.
The letter was signed by Nazila Ghane, special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Matthew Gillett, vice president of communications for the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Morris Tidball-Binz, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority issues.
Nigeria’s blasphemy laws “violate freedom of religion and belief”, in the view of the group that worked on the issue, and generate censorship, described by members as “a stifling effect on open dialogue and public discourse”.
The letter ends by requesting the Nigerian government to confirm the current status of investigations into Ms. Emmanuel’s murder and “the factual reasons that led to this public lynching,” as well as “the factual and legal grounds for the arrest and detention” of Ms. Jatau, as well as the country’s stance on international human rights obligations.
The organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which monitors the religious persecution of Christians around the world, approved the UN’s statement in the case: “We commend your robust questioning of the Nigerian government about the circumstances surrounding the brutal death of Deborah Emmanuel and the unjust detention of Ms Jatau for peacefully exercising her fundamental rights,” said Claire Denman.
“The repeal of the blasphemy provision also remains essential. It is incompatible with the country’s constitutional and international obligations and is a driver of religious extremism and violence, which in turn seriously undermines social cohesion”, concluded Claire.
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