Schoolgirls from
Moletsane Secondary School call for the release of the Nigerian girls
kidnaped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, 14 May 2014, in
Soweto.
The alleged forced conversion of the
abducted Nigerian girls from Christian to Islam left many Soweto
schoolgirls upset yesterday
During a Bring Back Our Girls demonstration
at the Moletsane High School, youngsters told The Citizen that the
Nigerian girls’ religious conversion was a gross human rights violation.Pupil Lucky Ponoane, 18, said the Nigerian girls had Christian roots that were instilled while they were raised, making such ideals difficult to be abandoned.
“It is sad that the girls were forcibly converted, but I don’t think they can be forced to be Islamic so quickly,” said Ponoane.
In a video released on Monday, Nigerian militant group Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed to have converted the Christian girls to Islam.
Moletsane High School pupil Kutlwano Monethi, 18, said converting the girls forcibly could have negative effects on their wellbeing.
“As a Christian, if I had to be converted against my will, it would be the same as being oppressed. What happened to the Nigerian girls was not cool. Everyone has the right to practice the religion they choose,” Monethi said.
Commenting on the global campaign calling for the safe return of the Nigerian girls to their families, pupils said everyone should be a part of the movement regardless of where they live and whether they were directly affected.
“As Africans we are directly affected by this. In our culture, what happens to our people affects us all,” said Ponoane.
“We share each other’s pain, which is why I’m supporting this campaign.”
Source: Citizen
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