Group wants end to religious discrimination in marriage

“Let all religious fanatics be informed that it is within the fundamental human right of any individuals to marry from whatever religion and to live with each other in peace and harmony.”

These are the words of Mr Samuel Olayinka, National President, Yoruba Youth Movement, who is calling for peaceful coexistence of individuals irrespective of the religious affiliation.

Bisi was denied western education, she was beating and maltreated so many times before she met Joseph because she converted, so when she met Joseph as a Christian was an addition to her problem.

Olayinka made this call based on an issue one of his members, Mr Kazeem Ibrahim, whose cousin,Bisi Tunrayo Olasina, a Muslim, married a Christian, Joseph Oluwafemi Olasina.

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According to Olayinka in his statement, “Bisi is a Christian convert from childhood and was denied western education based on her choice of religion. Prior to their marriage, Bisi’s family being Muslims, were opposed to the marriage of their daughter to a Christian.”

Olayinka said the family considered the marriage an abomination because the head of the family, Bisi’s father was a well-respected imam, and Muslim community leader, until his death when Bisi was 12 years old.

Things got worse and degenerated with no support from Bisi’s family. Situation became life threatening which caused the couple to elope to an unknown destination and are yet to be seen or heard from till date.  We advice that Bisi & Joseph should remain wherever they are as the family is bent on taking their life.

The statement continues: “Irrespective of the family persecution,Bisi and Joseph got married secretly on the 15th of October 2011 and lived happily as husband and wife. Although, the persecution and brutality persisted and often times was led by Alfa Wasiu, who is a member of Bisi father’s family, it got worse after the death of Bisi’s mother and she with her husband had to run away to unknown destination after running to different states in Nigeria.

“The mother who is a liberalist was attacked by family members because of her support for her daughters’ marriage. She was supportive both morally and emotionally, always encouraging her daughter to be submissive and respective towards her husband. The persecution got worse and led to the death of Bisi’s mother through physical, emotional and psychological abuse. She was brutalized and assaulted by her husband’s family  which led to her untimely death on the 11th of August 2016. Things got worse and degenerated with no support from Bisi’s family. Situation became life threatening which caused the couple to elope to an unknown destination and are yet to be seen or heard from till date since 2017.

“Religion has torn the wife’s family and the couple apart. Yet the couple are resilient in saving their marriage irrespective of the family’s hostility. The marriage of Joseph and Bisi had been under siege for over a decade and it had become imperative that ‘we’ Yoruba Youth Movement under the leadership of Mr Samuel Olayinka intervenes based on complains received from Bisi’s cousin, Mr Kazeem Ibrahim, who is a member of our esteemedorganization.

“This is why we have decided to make this public. The family members, friends, relatives and religious associate should stay off their neck and help find them.

“We hereby want to reiterate that the Yoruba Youth Movement is a non political and religious group. Our core objective is the fostering of the Yoruba Nation towards sustainable growth and development.”