10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

DhulQadah 18, 1441 A.H.
What Muslim World league, scholars say
on animal slaughter for food
FOOD plays an important
role in our religious life and
how we prepare food represents
a key tenet of our faith. Throughout
history, bans on the religious
slaughter of animals for food have
been used to try to limit the migration
of individuals from certain
religious groups. The first such
ban on religious methods of animal
slaughter for food occurred
in Switzerland as a response to
Jews fleeing the pogroms of Russia
during the nineteenth century.
Similar bans were introduced
in the lead up ta World War II,
marginalizing Jewish communities
across Europe.
Today, Muslims are increasingly
the targets of such legislation.
For example, we have seen bans
proposed by the Far Right in the
Netherlands following migration
from the Middle East of primarily
Muslim individuals.
None of these bans are justified -
whether they target the halal food
of Muslims, the kosher food of the
MURIC hails Ogun bill on traditional rites
•Wants other states to do same
Abill that will allow tradition
al rulers to be installed or
buried after death according to
their faiths has gone through the
second reading in the Ogun State
House of Assembly. The bill
which is known as HB No 36/OG/
2020- A Bill for a law to provide
for the Preservation, Protection
and Exercise by the traditional
rulers of their fundamental
Rights to be installed and buried
according to their Religions or
Beliefs and for other related matters
is being sponsored by Hon
Akeem Balogun, representing
Ogun Waterside State Constituency.
In a press statement issued by
the Muslim Rights Concern (MU-
RIC) on Tuesday, 7th July, 2020
and signed by its Director, Professor
Ishaq Akintola, the human
rights group described the bill as
long overdue, consistent with the
spirit of democracy and a sine
qua non for freedom of religion.
“We hail Hon. Akeem Balogun
for sponsoring the bill that will
allow traditional rulers to be installed
or buried after death according
to their faith. We equally
commend those lawmakers who
supported it. This bill is long
overdue, consistent with the
spirit of democracy and a sine
qua non for freedom of religion.
MURIC also urged State assemblies
in Lagos, Oyo, Osun,
Ondo and Ekiti to also introduce
the same bill and pass it into law.
He said: “Apart from being
anachronistic, traditional system
is characterised with tyranny,
intolerance and dictatorship.
It is time to liberate the kings and
the citizenry in Yorubaland.
“The imposition of only one religion
(i.e. traditional religion)
jews, or both. And any such ban
violates core principles of what
Europe should stand for. While
freedom of religion is inscribed
as a fundamental right throughout
the democracies of Europe,
it is meaningless without allowing
individuals and communities
the freedom to practice their
religions. We respect Belgian
sovereignty and the right of its
regions to promote social cohesion,
but urge them to rethink
these bans. Targeting the religious
practices of minority
groups in this way can only
harm relations between communities
and undermine social
cohesion.
This week,when the European
Court of justice decides whether
the Belgian bans on the religious
methods of animal slaughter
for food are legal, it must take
into account the historical intentions
of such bans, and consider
the precedent being set. If the
Belgian bans are upheld, the
during installation and burial on
all Yoruba Obas is an infringement
of their Allah-given fundamental
human rights. It is like life
imprisonment for them.
Yoruba kings have the right to
choose the manner of their installation
and no one has the
right to cut a king off his brethren
in faith.
“Besides, the world is changing
and Yorubaland cannot afford
to maintain an archaic and
anachronistic system particularly
when such erodes the liberty
to enter into covenant
with one’s Lord regarding how
he will rule his people and how
he will meet his Lord in the
Hereafter. These are
fundamental issues which no
homo sapien should be deprived
of.
“In this regard, we
commend traditional rulers
who have expressed their
opposition to the outdated
system. For instance, the
Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, Oba
Sikiru Adetona, has rejected
the old system and declared
his desire to be buried
according to his religion
(Islam) whenever he dies. Oba
Adedapo Tejuosho, the Osile of
Oke-Ona Egba, has also been
installing the Oluwo and other
chiefs with anointing oil as a
born again Christian.
“In law, only the state government
on the advice of the
state commissioner of police
can impose curfew on a town.
Even then, such imposition
must be based on adverse
security report. But traditionalists
will not listen.
They force everyone to stay
indoor and disorganize social
message that the Court is sending
to minority religious communities
in Europe is clear: They are
not welcome. We cannot expect
religious communities to stay in
Europe and thrive as contributing
members of their societies, if
the very act of their food consumption
is to be treated as a
crime: We urge the court to take
into account the needs of religious
communities in its judgment, and
the interests of building a Europe
of diversity and inclusion.
and economic activities at
will. The lives of women in labour
during such unlawful curfews
are endangered while students
who have examinations
stand the risk of failure.
The forceful conversion of
children of their deceased
members to the traditional faith
is another ugly dimension which
reveals their dictatorial
propensity.
“MURIC therefore welcomes
the new bill with open arms. It
will clip the wings of traditionalists
particularly their gymnastic
religiosity. However, we charge
law enforcement agents to ensure
that the bill operates successfully
when it becomes law. It
is one thing to enact a law but it is
another thing to ensure that it is
obeyed.
"Vanguard,
FRIDAY, JULY 10, , 2020 — 37
NASFAT births HAVEK leadership academy
•Set to produce 1,500 value-based young leaders
in first 1yr
LEADING Islamic society Nasrul–lahi—li Fatih (NASFAT)
has announced the birthing of HAVEK Leadership Academy.
The academy has been established to teach leadership
skills, address mindset issues as well as develop exceptional
leaders based on sound Islamic values and ethics.
HAVEK, crafted from Haven of Knowledge, is an incorporated
entity focused on developing minds based on Islamic leadership
principles and is expected to bridge the gap of nonavailability
of Islamic ethics, values and culture-based leadership
schools and programmes in Nigeria. It is a NASFAT initiative
established to produce exceptional young leaders based
on Islamic ethics, values and skills for a sustainably progressive
world. According to the pioneer Chair of HAVEK Mr. Niyi
Yusuf, the academy is a deliberate initiative of NASFAT aimed
at honing and producing responsible young leaders based on
global best practice and Islamic principles in governance,
ethics and values for a very desirous future that guarantees
sustainable and impactful leadership.
Speaking further, Mr. Yusuf mentioned that HAVEK is guaranteed
and envisioned to integrate a combined curriculum of
management, leadership development, missionary, entrepreneurship,
citizenship and vocational training skills towards
breeding well-grounded, resourced, committed, diligent and
God-fearing leaders for the future. It is hoped that HAVEK will
soon become the most respected leadership development academy
in Nigeria and beyond, following in the footsteps of NAS-
FAT. More importantly, contributing to the growth and development
of ethical based and principled driven leadership thus
positively contributing to the creation of a better world.
The academy is reported to have an ambition of training
1,500 young leaders in its first year and 1,000,000 by the end
of its 10th year of operations in 2030 through its various virtual
and offline programmes including certificate courses, seminars,
workshops, conferences, periodicals, articles, journals
and book readings focused on Leadership and Islamic ethics.
HAVEK’s operations will be managed by a team of experts
with the support of a governing board of highly respected and
tested leaders across the private-public sector and missionary
including Sesan Kareem, Mr. Fatai Olayemi, Alhaji Alaba
Olalekan, Alhaji AbdulLateef AbdusSalam, Hajia Shereefah Ajibola-Adeola,
Alhaji Abdurrahman Abdulwahab, Dr. Rahmat
Adetutu Adisa, Dr. Nasir Raji Mustapha and Alhaja Foluke
Abdulrazaq in its quest to becoming a leading leadership development
center in Africa.
Chairman Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fathi Society (NASFAT),
Kaduna branch, Engineer Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf
(right), presenting sewing machine to Halima Ibrahim
Suleiman (2nd left), while the chairman, Zakat
committee, Malam Abdulrazaq Zulukalaini (left)
looks on at the 2020 NASFAT Zakat Distribution to
the needy in Kaduna yesterday, Photo: Olu Ajayi.
Some of the beneficiaries at the presentation of 2020 NASFAT Zakat distribution
to the needy to start business, in Kaduna yesterday, Photo: Olu Ajayi.