By Adeyinka Adeniran
Stakeholders from different walk of life and human fields including religious leaders, scholars, community leaders, experts, youths, women and students have harped on the need for everyone in the society to respect and honor the religious differences of others as a way of maintaining peaceful co-existence.
According to the stakeholders, every individual have a right to practise the religious belief of their choice without discrimination, let or hindrance, noting that the right was accorded every individual in order to engender peace, nation-building and avoid conflicts.
The stakeholders spoke during a panel session held at the Screening of the Film on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with the theme: ‘’Bridging the Abyss’’, at Ibadan Business School, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The film was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdoms of Netherlands in Nigeria and produced by Search for Common Ground Nigeria.
The film was screened by a global non-governmental organisation, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Nigeria. The film show focused on unity, accommodation, family communication, and campaigns against religious discrimination.
Speaking, the Senior Media Officer, Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Katlong Dasat said there was a need to avoid discrimination on the basis of religion in order to engender peace in society.
Dasat said: ‘’This programme is to push awareness on religious freedom rights in Nigeria. As it is, Nigeria is a multi-religious state where you have people practising different religions. We know that Islam and Christianity are the most popular, but we have a lot of other religions and belief in the country.
“What we are pushing and advocating for is for people to respect each other and also to value diversity. I will urge everyone to understand that the human rights of religion is one to protect and then this beauty in diversity. It promotes nation building and also reduces conflict’’.
Also, an Oyo state Vocal Persons, Mr. Seun Akinola there is a need for everyone to live by the tenets of their religious belief without interfering with others.
He said, ’Let everyone live by the tenets of their religion. We have inalienable right to practice our religion as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Society should allow people to express that freedom which is their right.
“We should respect other people’s religion. We should not castigate other people’s religion, they have the right to propagate their religion, live by their religion. Society will be better if we allow everyone to practice his or her religion. We should not discriminate against people because of their religion’’.
Members of the panel including: Mr Babatunde Onilari from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); Dr Abiade Abiola from the Faculty of Law, Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan, and an African traditional religion practitioner, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Osunwunsi, also cautioned Nigerians against religious discrimination and discrimination on the basis of religion.
Dr Abiola said: ‘’There is beauty in diversity and individuality. Human rights are your right. If you discriminate against another on the basis of religion, you are violating others’ rights.
Osunwunsi in his view said everyone has the right to choose or change or practice his or her religion without any coercion or discrimination, adding: ‘’If you deny any person from practicing his or her religion is like you have killed the real person of the fellow from within. Freedom of religion is connected with other rights’’.
Babatunde from NHRC, said: ‘’Freedom of religion is a human right. It is your right to choose your religion and the kind of religion you want to practice’’.
