Simran Varma
Student, Study Hall School

In the midst of the preparation of the world’s biggest democratic election in India, more than 276 students from the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Nigeria were abducted by a group of militants called the Boko Haram on the night of 14th- 15th of April.. The leader of Boko Haram (which literally means Western Education is a sin) Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibly for the kidnappings in a video that emerged in the first week of May. Students are being forced into Islam and into marriage with members of the Boko Haram. Shekau claimed that “Allah instructed me to sell them. I will carry out his instructions”

This one incident has scarred Chibok, a small Christian village that has been under the threat of this terrorist organization for the longest time but recently the casualties have started to increase. The roads are empty, the parents of the missing students are devastated and the government is still unsure how to carry out the mission without putting the students in danger.

From Michelle Obama to Malala Yousafzai, everyone is seen holding a placard with ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ written on it but I refuse to believe how his could actually help in bring back our girls. Is a placard enough to show support to the parents who are weeping at the abduction of their daughters? This organization kidnaps girls and then threatens to sell them in the name of religion; when Islam has always been a religion of peace, where women are respected and education is valued above all. As Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) said, “It is the duty of every person to get knowledge”
The world needs to invest in Nigeria. We need to support Nigerian girls and women calling for equality and justice. They are the only people who can ever bring lasting and meaningful change in Nigeria. We all must stand up and raise our voices for peace and justice. I considered it my responsibility, as a global citizen to take part in spreading awareness about women’s right.

Are you?