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Muslim group has rejected the slated camping period of a batch of the
National Youth Service Corp which clashes with the Ramadan period.
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, have released a statement
rejecting the June 13th date fixed for the NYSC Batch A (Stream II)
orientation course, arguing that the Muslim graduates expected to
participate in the orientation will be fasting as the date clashes with
their Ramadan fasting according to Premium Times.
The group argues that it would be very strenuous for Muslims to be
fasting and also participate in the challenges task set for them
during their orientation camp.
The statement reads in part :
The statement reads in part :
“It is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional for NYSC to hold camp at a time when its Muslim members will be deprived of their freedom of worship and the liberty to practice their creed without fear.
This planned camp is exclusive, discriminatory and
parochial. We do not want to believe that the shift was deliberately
planned to coincide with the Ramadan season with a view to excluding
prospective Muslim corpers. MURIC is not trying to indulge Muslim
youths. Fasting is no joke and it certainly cannot be combined with the
physical challenges which characterize the NYSC camp.
Firstly, morning drills in NYSC camps are known to be rigorous and the soldiers in charge will not take excuses. Dehydration sets in later in the day particularly in the hotter regions of Nigeria.
Secondly, adequate sahuur (early morning meal taken approximately between 4 am and 5.15 am) cannot be guaranteed in the NYSC camp. Neither can the futuur (meal taken at sunset to break fast ) be timely as camp schedules are bound to ignore and subsume this very important period.
Thirdly, attending orientation camp and partaking in the
energy-sapping activities on empty stomach is an indubitable invitation
to health crisis. NYSC may therefore be inviting Muslim corpers to
step on landmines in the planned orientation camp if it holds as
presently scheduled.
There is more to Ramadan than ordinary fasting. That is on the
surface. The whole month of Ramadan is a period of spiritual
dedication.
There are so many other spiritual exercises in which Muslims
engage, the tafsiir (exegesis of the Qur’an) session, the taraawih
(late evening supererogatory prayers) and nawaafil (night
supererogatory prayers). Only the deep can call to the deep. All these
cannot be possible in the NYSC camp.” the statement read
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