BENJAMIN OMOIKE
Religious freedom is a key element of an open and stable society. Without it, people aren’t able to make their fullest contribution to their country’s success.
The United States of America has honoured Samuel Deborah, who was gruesomely murdered by an overzealous mob in Sokoto, Nigeria, for alleged blasphemy.
Deborah, a victim of overzealous shariah mobs, in May 2022, being honoured by the United States, was one of the activities to mark the year’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief by the US Department of State (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The Office of International Religious Freedom said, “In May, a mob brutally stoned, flogged, and burned to death college student Deborah Samuel in Nigeria, in an attack fueled by hatred and blasphemy allegations, even as authorities attempted to stop it.
“We honour her life as we continue the work to end such vicious violence.”
The United States Ambassador-At-Large, Rashad Hussain, who heads the Office of International Religious Freedom, on Tuesday, said like Deborah, “Too many people around the world who face violence based on religion or belief are unknown because oppression keeps them hidden from view or it is too dangerous for their names to be shared. We remember and honour them.”
Also, the United States, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said only religious freedom can guarantee the full development of a country.
He added that whenever human rights are denied, it ignites tension and breeds division.
“Religious freedom is a key element of an open and stable society. Without it, people aren’t able to make their fullest contribution to their country’s success. And whenever human rights are denied, it ignites tension, it breeds division,” Blinken said.
While the US is honouring Deborah a victim of overzealous sharia mobs in Sokoto, the Federal government of Nigeria is yet to bring the perpetrators to book.
The late Samuel Deborah, was a 200-level Home Economics student of Sokoto State College of Education, who was lynched, killed and burnt by an overzealous mob of Muslim youths in May over alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammed on a student’s WhatsApp group.
