The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fodilatul Sheikh Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has warned social media influencers against actions and utterances capable of promoting religious hatred, provoking Muslims and threatening peaceful coexistence among different faiths in Yorubaland and Nigeria.

The cleric, in a statement by his Director, Media and Publicity, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade on Thursday, expressed dismay on the increasing use of social media platforms to provoke religious sentiments, ridicule sacred beliefs and create unnecessary tension among peaceful citizens.

He noted that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, such freedom should be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law. It should never be used as a licence to deliberately desecrate what others hold sacred, promote religious hatred or incite actions capable of threatening public peace.

The Chief Imam said Muslims have the constitutional right to practise their religion and observe its principles within the ambit of the law.

“Shari’ah should not be portrayed as an instrument of forced conversion or religious domination. Muslims have the right to discuss, advocate for and practise aspects of their faith in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and applicable laws,” he stated.

He, therefore, cautioned against the deliberate use of misinformation, fear-mongering and inflammatory rhetoric to portray Islam or Shari’ah in a negative light, noting that such actions can only create unnecessary suspicion, deepen religious intolerance and threaten the peaceful coexistence for which Yorubaland has historically been known. (Tribune News)