- These bans were imposed in 2017 and 2022 by both state and federal universities
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Katsina State, supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, has taken legal action against two universities in the state.
The universities have indefinitely banned Christian groups from holding fellowship meetings and worship on campus, violating the right to religious freedom.
The ADF International stated that these bans were imposed in 2017 and 2022 by both state and federal universities and have not been lifted. One of the universities enforced the ban by locking worship and fellowship centers, preventing Christian students from accessing facilities for religious activities on campus.
“Meanwhile, Muslim student groups at both universities have been permitted to hold worship and fellowship meetings in university-constructed worship and meeting spaces.
“Both universities have relatively high percentages of Christian students and faculty despite Katsina being a Muslim-majority state,” the statement added.
One Christian student in one of the universities was quoted as saying, “We only want to be able to freely gather and worship as Christians on equal terms with other religious faiths. It is wrong that our universities are preventing us from exercising our most basic, fundamental rights.”
The ADF International’s lead attorney on the case, Sean Nelson stated that “No person should be discriminated against for their faith, and the actions of these state and federal universities are plainly unjust.
“The world continues to watch as Nigerian authorities regularly violate the religious freedom rights of their citizens. This kind of discrimination against Christian students cannot be allowed to spread.
“These two universities should immediately revoke these discriminatory policies and allow Christians on their campuses to gather and worship freely.”