Intellectuals say peace is achieved through tolerance

Intellectuals from diverse backgrounds have met at  the 4th Annual Conference of West African Regional Center for Law and Religious Studies in conjunction with the Faculty of Law, Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja, at the weekend to discuss the topic, ‘Law, Religion and the Education System in West Africa.’ The event was put together […]

Intellectuals from diverse backgrounds have met at  the 4th Annual Conference of West African Regional Center for Law and Religious Studies in conjunction with the Faculty of Law, Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja, at the weekend to discuss the topic, ‘Law, Religion and the Education System in West Africa.’

The event was put together to create awareness on how religion in its origin has been used to provide social cohesion and promote ethnic, cultural and behavioral pattern in the society. The event was also intended to develop world peace through religious tolerance.

Many interest groups including West African Regional Center for Law and Religious Studies, Center for Human Rights Lagos, International Center for Law and Religious Studies, United States and the Center for Religious Studies, United Kingdom participated at the conference which held at the Nile University, Abuja. 

 The speaker, Professor Abdulmunin Oba and Dean Faculty of law, University of Ilorin said freedom of religion and worship which is provided in the constitution, is a fundamental right of citizens to practice and worship in any form but has some restrictions and limitations which prohibit igniting public disorder. 

Professor Oba said religion does not permit bigotry but encourages unity irrespective of divergence beliefs, be it Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and other forms of religious worships that are genuinely acceptable by the Almighty God.

According to him, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights discourages extreme behavior that is capable of infringing the rights of other people and promotes tolerance.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Nile University, Professor Huseyin Sert said Law and Religion are fundamental in the practice of Islam, Christianity and any other religion.

He said long-ago, leaders used judges to direct the affairs of the society and to maintain law and order in moderating the religious practices, and called on all believers to promote the course of education, health and peace. 

Dean Faculty of Law Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Zuru, said in most religions, there is collection of rules, which in Christianity can be referred to as commandments to be obeyed and observed by practitioners noting that it is prohibited for believers to go outside the confines of the law. 

He also said religion must be practiced within the prescribed standards if relative peace and progress must be achieved.  He said religion is an institution that set moral standards that guides the principles of worshipers and followers to observe common conventions as contained in the holy book, arguing that, a better understanding of what religion seek to address will guarantee a safe, better and sustainable society.

He said insecurity, insurgency and militancy are mostly the end result of religious extremism and intolerance and until the society is rid of awkward behaviors towards religion, meaningful peace will not be achieved.

Honorary Professor Mark Hill of Center for Law and Religion Cardiff University, United Kingdom, declared that the state must to be neutral in religious matters irrespective of who is the leader; this according to him will give confidence to other religions.

Professor Hill advocated for separation of law and religion with each given its autonomy and that people should have the freedom of worship. 

Also speaking at the event was the President West African Regional Center for Law and Religion Professor Akinola Ibidapo who argued that all men are equal before the law and the discrimination of a fellow human is injustice in any religion, saying there must be public safety in practicing any form of religion globally.

Professor Ibidapo is of the view that insurgency and insecurity can be linked to political, economic and social re-alignments within the context of leadership and therefore called on the politicians and leaders to separate politics and religion for an enduring democratic practice.