The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Katsina State branch, sponsored by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, has filed a lawsuit against two colleges in Katsina State to dispute what they see as an infringement of their religious freedoms.
The lawsuit claims that these institutions have unfairly barred Christian groups from holding fellowship meetings and worship on their campuses.
The legal advocacy group ADF International issued a statement on Monday describing the basis for the lawsuit.
According to the statement, two colleges, one state and one federal, placed restrictions on Christian religious activities in 2017 and 2022, respectively, and have refused to lift them.
One of the universities, which was not specifically named in the statement, apparently implemented the prohibition by closing all worship and fellowship spaces on campus, essentially banning Christian students from using these facilities.
Meanwhile, Muslim student groups are purportedly permitted to hold assemblies in university-built religious halls.
Despite Katsina’s Muslim predominance, both colleges apparently feature considerable Christian student and faculty populations.
A Christian student from one of the universities expressed their frustration, stating, “We only want to be able to freely gather and worship as Christians on equal terms with other religious faiths. It is wrong that our universities are preventing us from exercising our most basic, fundamental rights.”
Sean Nelson, the lead attorney for ADF International on the case, emphasized, “No person should be discriminated against for their faith, and the actions of these state and federal universities are unjust.”
CAN echoed these sentiments, condemning the universities’ actions and calling for global condemnation of religious discrimination.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the students, is grounded in the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic.