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aammar 02-09-2012 03:56 AM

‘Idol’ Ban Agitates Nigeria Muslims
 
Curfews imposed by polytheists on people in southern Nigeria during their traditional festivals to worship their idols are sparking outcry among Muslims, amid calls for government intervention to stop the practice.
"The polytheists are free to believe anything once they do not infringe on the rights of others,” Alhaji Rasheed Mubarak, Chief Imam of Ikenne in southwestern Ogun State, told OnIslam.net.
“To us is our religion and to them is their belief. The government must make this abundantly clear to all."
Polytheists in Nigeria’s southwestern Yoruba states are used to ban people from coming out during their celebrations of idol festivals.
People who dare come out during the festivals encounter intimidation.
But the practice is condemned by Muslims as an oppressive way to impose polytheism on residents.
"Don't get it twisted. We agree there is freedom of thought and of religion but it is also the law that your right stops where mine begins and vice versa," Mubarak said.
In Ramadan, polytheists in the southwestern city of Remo tried to stage their traditional Oro festival.
But the move triggered outcry from Muslims and forced the government to intervene to convince the polytheists not to impose any curfew during the festival.
Muslim Rights Concern, an amalgam of nongovernmental organizations and individuals, has criticized the arbitrary ban by polytheists as a violation of people’s freedom of movement.
MRC Coordinator Prof Ishaq Akintola says his group has gone ahead to petition various provincial governments and monarchies in some affect areas to alert them of the danger of one religious group impinging on the fundamental freedoms of others.
For Peace
A top government functionary in charge of local government affairs in the State, Muyiwa Oladipo, said Muslims' agitation was justified.
"Nobody is asking you not to practise your religion but it has to be done with some decorum,” Oladipo told OnIslam.net.
“Restrict yourself to your area so that you will not disturb other people, especially students and others who don't belong to your group, especially Muslims in the area."
Oladipo said he had held a meeting with Muslims and leaders of the polytheists, where he asked the sect to restrict its activities to the areas where their rites would be held rather than imposing a no-movement order on the whole community.
He stressed that restriction of traditional festivals would allow for peace to reign and ensure free movement of the people.
“There are people who don't see things your way and you need to respect their feelings," Oladipo told OnIslam.net.
The leader of the cult group in Ikenne, Ola Bello, in a telephone interview with OnIslam.net said they abide by the government directive to allow for peaceful coexistence in the religion.
Tajudeen Salako, chairman of the Ikenne local municipal, said plans are underway to hold further meetings with the two groups to accommodate one another.
"It is imperative that we live in peace. All the groups are ready to and indeed should accommodate one another,” he told OnIslam.net.
“We are known for peace in the South West, especially Ogun State and we should continue to maintain that peace."
Nigeria, one of the world's most religiously committed nations, is divided between a Muslim north and a Christian south.
Muslims and Christians, who constitute 55 and 40 percent of Nigeria's 140 million population respectively, have lived in peace for the most part.
But ethnic and religious tensions have bubbled for years, fuelled by decades of resentment between indigenous groups, mostly Christian or animist, who are vying for control of fertile farmlands with migrants and settlers from the Hausa-speaking Muslim north.


الساعة الآن 04:39 AM.

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