13th June, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
SALAH-OLYMPIC CLASH: WE ACCEPT AFN EXPLANATION – MURIC
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) says it has accepted the explanation made by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) following its complaint about the clash of the dates of Salah and the Olympic trials.
AFN had earlier fixed the trial for the coming Olympics to start from 16th to 18th June, 2024 but MURIC rejected the date for coinciding with Salah dates which are also 16th to 18th June, 2024 (https://championnews.com.ng/muric-denounces-athletics-federation-of-nigeria-for-fixing-olympic-trial-on-sallah-days/).
Reacting to MURIC’s complaint, AFN said the clash was not deliberate. It also added that arrangements had been made to enable the Muslim athletes in the Nigerian Olympic team enjoy the Salah (https://guardian.ng/sport/athletics/national-trials-clash-with-sallah-celebration-a-coincidence-says-afn/).
In a swift reaction to AFN’s explanation on Thursday, 13th June, 2024, MURIC said:
“We accept the explanation given by the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) concerning the clash of the Salah date with that of the Olympic trials. AFN has shown beyond reasonable doubt that it is a responsible and sensitive body. By responding to our allegation in this manner, the athletic body has proved that it has no hidden agenda.
“All is well that ends well. The worst families are those who keep malice. They do not express their feelings. They keep everything bottled up until there is an implosion. That is when they burst out in anger. It is always good to dialogue. It is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. We made our complaint public. AFN gave its own explanations and made it clear that the clash was not intentional. That is how dialogue works.
“MURIC will never encourage anarchy. Our motto is ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’. It is those who want to smear our image who accuse us falsely of being controversial or violent. They attack us because we defend the Muslims whom they want to oppress. We stand between them, their intended victims and their diabolical intentions.
“That is why they accuse us of being controversial. MURIC is not controversial at all. We have been consistent. We have been standing up for justice for Muslims and for truth right from the day MURIC was established. That was way back in 1994. Our detractors are just trying to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Look at the way this issue with AFN ended. All misunderstandings are cleared. That is how we operate particularly whenever there is no foul play and there is mutual respect.
“AFN has shown that it understands the situation. It has made provision for Muslim athletes and their Christian mates to enjoy the Salah. Rams have even been provided to be slaughtered on that day. What else could we ask for? AFN has shown concern for our fears. MURIC is not deaf. We heard AFN loud and clear. Nigeria will be a better place if all agencies are like AFN.
“We appeal to Muslim athletes to show understanding and to cooperate with the AFN officials. We also urge their families whom they would leave behind to mark the Salah alone to bear with them. It is a national call. Nigeria needs them at these hours. The discomfort should be bourne with pride as service to Nigeria”.
#KudosAthleticFederationOfNigeria
#DialogueWorks
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
