Connect with us

Headline

US Removes Nigeria From List Of ‘Religious Freedom’ Violators

Published

on

Nigeria was on Wednesday not mentioned by the United States on the list of countries engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom”

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a statement titled, ‘Religious Freedom Designations’ said; “The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country.

In 2020, the US designated Nigeria along with “Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as countries of concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for engaging systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations”.

Advertisement

According to the statement, “In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs.

“This Administration is committed to supporting every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right.

“Each year the Secretary of State has the responsibility to identify governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the International Religious Freedom Act.

“I am designating Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Advertisement

”I am also placing Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.”

“Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.

“The challenges to religious freedom in the world today are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched.

READ ALSO: Nigerians React As Davido Receives Over N80m Donation Less Than 24hrs He Requested For N100m

Advertisement

“They exist in every country. They demand sustained global commitment from all who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo. They require the international community’s urgent attention.

“We will continue to press all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.

“The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the world and address the plight of individuals and communities facing abuse, harassment, and discrimination on account of what they believe, or what they do not believe.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

Headline

Mother Throws Disabled 6-year-old Son Into Crocodile Infested River [PHOTOS]

Published

on

By

A mother has thrown her disabled six-year-old son into a crocodile-infested river where he has reportedly been mauled to death by reptiles.

Savitri Kumar, 26, from Uttara Kannada, a district in Karnataka, India, had a heated argument with the boy’s father, Ravi Kumar, 27, who repeatedly ordered her to “throw the child away,” the Times of India reports.

Police say her husband allegedly questioned her decision to give birth to a child with a disability.

Advertisement

When the parents fought about their son again on Saturday evening, May 4, Savitri was “distressed” and reportedly threw her son into a waste canal that flows into the Kali river, which is infested with crocodiles.

Father of the son

READ ALSO: Benue To Build Brewery As Residents Spend N850m On Beer Monthly

Neighbours who witnessed this called the police, who deployed divers to search for the boy in the water, but to no avail, as it was dark.

They returned on Sunday morning, May 5, and found the child’s body, which showed bite marks all over.

The boy suffered severe injuries and was missing a hand, which a police officer suggested indicated that the boy was mauled to death by one or more crocodiles.

Advertisement

A post mortem has been ordered to determine the six-year-old’s cause of death.

READ ALSO: JUST-IN: Terrorists Kill Two, Abduct 18 In Fresh Kaduna Attack

The couple also has another son aged two and is said to frequently fight about their older son’s speech impediment.

Officers have launched an investigation into the incident.

Advertisement

A police officer told local media that it was a “murder” case and that both the husband and wife have been arrested.

Continue Reading

Headline

‘Shame On You’- Ugandan Senator Knocked For Showing Off Wooden Bridge He Constructed

Published

on

By

A Ugandan Senator took to X to proudly show off the bridge he repaired for his constituents.

“People in Ndorwa East can now use the Rubira bridge which I recently repaired,” Hon. Protazio Begumisa, the MP Ndorwa East wrote on X as he proudly posed on a wooden bridge.

Read reactions below:

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Headline

[ICYMI]Living-in-China: Meet Half-Nigerian, Half-Chinese Youth Who Speaks Igbo, English, Chinese Fluently [VIDEO]

Published

on

By

L-R: Emmanuel Chibike, and Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy

A half-Nigerian and half-Chinese man, Emmanuel Chibike, has left social media users in awe with his ability to speak Igbo, English, and Chinese fluently.

The discovery was made by content creator and social media influencer known as Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy during his visit to an estate in China.

“If you look around, you’ll see that I’m in an estate in China. I met our brother, and as I was looking at him, I was wondering if he was Chinese,” Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy said in a video interview posted on Monday.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Old Clip Of Wizkid’s Father’s Claim On Helping Alaba Get Electricity In 1972 Sparks Outrage

I noticed that as I was speaking (in Igbo language), he was laughing, and I was wondering if he could understand what I was speaking,” he added.

It was then that the comedian learned of Chibike’s unique background.

“After discussions with him, he explained who he was to me. Apparently, his father, who is from Ozubulu (a town in Anambra State), came to China and married a Chinese woman,” he explained.

Advertisement

Chibike’s ability to effortlessly switch between the three languages left a lasting impression on the influencer. “This boy here, he can speak English, Chinese, and Igbo languages,” he marvelled.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Aircraft Fault Forces Shettima To Abandon US Trip

In the video, Chibike showcased his multilingual skills by introducing himself in English, Chinese, and then Igbo.

His fluency in all three languages show his knowledge of his cultural heritage.

Advertisement

Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy seized the opportunity to encourage Igbo parents to teach their children their native language.

“It is quite shameful that some Igbo children based in Igbo land can’t speak their native language,” he lamented, emphasising the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural identities.

Watch the video below courtesy The PUNCH:

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version