Canterbury Archbishop Condemns Lynching Of Deborah Samuel, Seeks Liberty

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has condemned the lynching of Deborah Samuel, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, for allegedly blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad last week Thursday.

Welby who is the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury expressed his disappointment in the fact that people still kill in the name of God through a thread of tweets.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has condemned the stoning to death and burning of Deborah Samuel, a female student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad on Thursday, last week.

Welby, the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, in a series of tweets on Wednesday expressed disappointment that to date, people were killing in the name of God.

He appealed to the Nigerian government to take proactive measures and ensure that the religious rights of all citizens are protected.

“I strongly condemn the appalling stoning to death of a Christian woman in Sokoto, Nigeria.

"This violence is a sin against God. I pray for the family and loved ones of Deborah Samuel, and I continue to pray fervently for the nation of Nigeria,” he said.

The Archbishop pleaded with the Nigerian government to make sure to protect the religious right of its citizen by taking proactive steps.

Welby who has visited President Buhari about four times said he had been working with others to ensure reconciliation and interfaith dialogue, adding that the government should ensure liberty and equality before the law for both Christians and Muslims alike.