By Leo Igwe
A photo of the student
from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola who was accused of abusing
Prophet Muhammad has been circulating on the social media. Apparently,
fanatical elements have published this photo in order to eliminate this
student, or rather to have him pay for his crime.
Some people have
attributed the recent clashes between Muslim and Christian students at a
university in Yola to the purported sacrilegious act of this student, that is, he
abused Prophet Muhammad. For them, the abuse of Prophet Muhammad is a serious
offence that warrants the annihilation of this individual and have the name
placed on a death row, and literally turning him into a fugitive in his own
country.Others have blamed the
crisis in Yola on the grievances of Muslim students over the outcome of the
recent students union elections in which Christians won most of the positions.
Whatever the case, this religious crisis and other manifestations of religious
fundamentalism on campuses portend danger, decay and destruction of the
educational system in the country. In fact, this piece argues that the recent
eruptions of religious zealotry and intolerance on Nigerian campuses constitute
a betrayal of academic trust.
First of all, it is
important to stress that universities, colleges and schools are public
institutions. They are built, funded and established to foster public good,
that is, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding. Campuses are places to
learn new things, exchange ideas and acquire new knowledge. So it is important
that a variety of ideas be available, and that those who go there be disposed
to embark on unusual intellectual engagements and adventures.
Learning can indeed be
a disconcerting exercise that unsettles the learners, and hurts the sentiments
of scholars. Learning entails an exposition to new and strange ideas, to
hostile opinions and insights. Universities are theatres where the oft-painful
process of opening minds is performed. So, those who go to these places should
be ready to undergo this procedure. They should be disposed to experience and
absorb the mental, cultural and social shocks that go with this surgical
process.
That is why it does
not speak, or sit well, to hear that students clashed, rioted and in fact
attacked another student for expressing offensive ideas. Such behavior amounts
to a desecration of the academic space, a violation of the university norms, an
academic treason. Look if students cannot tolerate offensive expressions, then
why do they go to the university? Why do they call themselves students in the
first? Students are supposed to study. So what actually are they studying? Only
comforting ideas that soothe their nerves? The expression of offensive ideas is
part of what makes the university what it is. It is part of the university
educational project to expose students to uncomfortable opinions.
Whenever any person
signs up to go to school, to attend a college or a university, the fellow has
undertaken to be offended, to encounter hurtful, stupid, senseless, painful,
insulting, outrageous and blasphemous ideas. So it is difficult to comprehend
that university students violently rioted over mere expression of ideas.
Students who are
Muslims should expect to encounter ideas and expressions that query and
sometimes make a caricature of their faith, of their most cherished beliefs
such as the belief in the existence and potency of Allah, the prophethood of
Muhammad, and the inerrancy of the Quran. In fact, they should know that others
could deem expressions of their Islamic religious beliefs abusive or insulting.
And that one deems an expression insulting does not justify violent reactions
.Muslims should not expect that others would always respectfully speak about
Islam and Prophet Muhammad. No. Muslims do not always speak respectfully about
other religions and beliefs. Do they? Muslim preachers propagate messages which
people of other faiths and beliefs could deem offensive or an abuse of their
prophets or Gods. And if Muslims have the right to freedom of religion and
expression, others have the same right too.
And nobody should understand and appreciate these basic human rights better than students! Unfortunately, this is not the case.
And nobody should understand and appreciate these basic human rights better than students! Unfortunately, this is not the case.
In addition, Christian
students should be disposed to engage in civilized debates of all ideas that
are critical of Christianity. They should be ready to explore thoughts that
question and ridicule the provisions in the Bible and tolerate views that
challenge the messiahship and saviorship of Jesus and other Christian dogmas.
Universities should be
places for experiments, the experimentation of ideas, the free exercise of
curiosity and imagination. Students should be disposed to generating,
engineering and testing new ideas. This social experiment can take different
forms. Students should be ready to experiment dating students of other faiths
or none. They should try voting and electing officers not based on their
religious belief or lack thereof but based on their character and abilities. If
students continue to socialize and vote along ethnic and religious lines as
they do in the wider society, then their university or college education is
useless, a waste of time and resources. In conclusion, Nigerian students must
be ready to conduct themselves decently in the course of their educational
pursuits and learn to tolerate offensive viewpoints without taking offence.
They should understand that all religious objects are materials for critical
examination and inquiry, whether it is Allah, Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, Ifa,
Sango or Amadioha. Students must commit themselves to this sacred duty and
obligation. Violent reactions to expressions that purportedly offend religious
sensibilities have no place in a university. So Nigerian students should learn
to uphold and not betray this academic trust that is reposed on them.
*Igwe is a commentator on public issues
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