Humanity Must Come Before Religion, Lawyer Tells First Graduands of Faith and Freedom Africa
Our Reporter
The first graduation ceremony of Faith and Freedom Africa (FFA) has ended with a call on graduands to use their training to promote religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and protection of freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON), Panmak Dashan, Esq., charged the graduands, described as the first cohort of the programme, to see their graduation not as an end but as the beginning of a greater responsibility to educate and advocate in their communities.
“It is my singular honour to be part of this historic occasion, a red-letter day in the history of Faith and Freedom Africa. Before we are identified by our religious affiliations, we are first and foremost human beings. Our humanity should never be overshadowed by our religious differences,” he said.
He congratulated the graduands for completing the intensive training on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), noting that they had acquired knowledge essential for promoting human rights at a time when ignorance and intolerance continue to thrive.
According to him, freedom of religion or belief is one of the most pressing human rights issues confronting society, as spirituality and religious identity form a core part of human dignity.
He said the right goes beyond belief to include the right to practise, change, renounce or hold no religion at all, without coercion.
Citing Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), he stressed that every person is guaranteed freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to worship, establish places of worship, teach and disseminate beliefs, and share religious convictions.
He listed key components of FoRB to include freedom to adopt or change religion, freedom from coercion, freedom to worship individually or collectively in public or private, and freedom to use religious symbols and materials.
The speaker, however, noted that freedom of religion or belief remains a concern in Nigeria, particularly with issues around allegations of apostasy and blasphemy, where individuals face threats, discrimination or punishment for their beliefs or expressions.
“This is why the work of Faith and Freedom Africa is important,” he said, urging the graduands to become ambassadors for understanding and mutual respect.
He charged them to translate their certificates into action by challenging prejudice with understanding and intolerance with respect.
“The true value of this training will not be measured merely by the certificates you receive today, but by how you apply what you have learnt to transform your communities,” he said.
Quoting Toff Kulere, he added: “Humanity is not merely what we profess but what we do when someone needs us.”
He congratulated Faith and Freedom Africa for the initiative and urged the graduands to let their efforts show that people of different beliefs can live together peacefully.
“Let it be said that, through your efforts, humanity prevailed,” he said.
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