The Government of
the United States of America has honoured late Deborah Samuel, the 200-level
student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE), Sokoto, who was
murdered by a furious religious mob May 12, 2022.
Deborah was stoned
to death on campus by some Islamic extremists for blasphemy, an incident which
sparked outrage among many Nigerians.
The US Office of
Religious Freedom, a department saddled with the responsibility of promoting
universal respect for freedom of religion or belief, had Deborah’s picture
uploaded on its website, as it marks the fourth US International Day Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based
on Religion or Belief on August 22.
“In May, a mob brutally stoned, flogged
and burnt to death college student, Deborah Samuel, in Nigeria, in an attack
fuelled by hatred and blasphemy allegations, even as authorities attempted to
stop it,” the office stated on its website.
“We honour her life as we continue the
work to end such vicious violence.”
The US Ambassador-at-Large, Rashad Hussain, who heads the
office, In a series of tweets on Tuesday, stated that too many people around
the world who face violence based on their religion or belief are not heard
because oppression keeps them hidden from view or it is too dangerous for their
names to be shared.
The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken on his part also
stated that the failure to protect the right to freedom of religion or belief
threatens the enjoyment of this right by all.
“Religious freedom is a key element of an open and stable society. Without it,
people aren’t able to make their fullest contribution to their country’s
success,” Blinken noted
“Whenever human rights are denied, it ignites tension and breeds division.”
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