Fact Check: Dehumanization of a Nigerian Citizen

 

The first word that came to my mind when I saw the incident at the Ibadan JAMB centre was dehumanization. I looked it up to gain a clearer understanding and found that the United Nations defines dehumanization as "the process of depriving a person or group of positive human qualities, leading others to view them as less than fully human."

Furthermore, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights describes dehumanization in practice as actions or language that "deny the humanity of individuals or groups, often portraying them as animals, vermin, or objects." In this case, she is a suspect even before she arrived at the venue. 

We are human beings, and we have been taught that we possess rights, "fundamental human rights." In fact, my Citizenship Education teacher emphasized that these rights cannot be taken away unless one oversteps their lawful limits. Among these rights is the right to freedom of religion. And he taught us these rights are inalienable.

If an individual has the right to choose their religion, should they then be punished for adhering to its instructions, especially when they have not infringed on the rights of others?

If an examination centre cannot tolerate a particular mode of dressing that is not in violation of any established or stated law, then JAMB should make provisions for such centres to clearly indicate their limitations regarding candidates of certain faiths. No one is arguing against necessary security checks. However, what justifies pulling off a woman’s hair covering in public when there is no evidence or reasonable suspicion that she poses a threat?

Even if there were suspicion, the proper course of action would be to involve trained security personnel or the appropriate authorities responsible for handling such situations, not to subject the individual to public embarrassment.

Is there a clearer form of dehumanization than compelling a person to remove part of their clothing in public simply to sit for an examination required for admission? Have we considered the emotional impact of such treatment? Many candidates already approach examinations with anxiety. When you add public humiliation to that, how do you expect them to remain composed? And without composure, how can they perform well?

This is called civilization, yet some people expect others to conform to standards that are neither universal nor legally binding. The person whose dressing reveals parts of their body is accepted, while the one who chooses modesty is publicly disgraced, almost like a criminal. And yet, we all claim the same fatherland. Motherland, indeed.

God help us.

You're in another man's land, and you become a suspect because your name is "Abdul." You stay at home, and you are unsafe because you choose modesty. You are expected to smile so you won’t be labeled intolerant. But for how long will one tolerate intolerance just to be accepted as tolerant?

®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ 

#Uloko