Metro

Rwanda’s Protestant Council bans abortions in its clinics

Published

2 years ago

February 28, 2023

The Rwandan Protestant Council has directed all health facilities run by its members in the country to stop carrying out all forms of abortions.

The Council, in a statement on Tuesday, said it’s decision earlier in the month which described abortion as a sin, stemmed from the stance of Rwanda’s Catholic Church which has condemned the practice, though it is conflicting with the East African country’s law which permits abortions for specific reasons.

The statement which was signed by 26 Protestant religious organizations, called on parents to guide their daughters to seek abstinence from sex until marriage.

“For us, we have our beliefs, and our beliefs cannot be taken away by the law. We are not opposing the law, but our belief does not allow us to support abortion,” head of the Anglican Church in Rwanda, Laurent Mbanda, said.

He added that the best way the council’s member health facilities can handle abortion cases is to make referrals to other hospitals.

The decision of the Council, has, however, not gone down with many including the government and human rights activists.

The Rwandan government views the Protestant Council’s decision on such a sensitive matter as “undesirable,” said an official from Rwanda’s health ministry.

Aflodis Kagaba, the Executive Director of Health Development Initiative, an NGO, said “the Protestant church stance is likely to alienate their followers and make them seek other alternatives like unsafe abortions that can risk the woman and can cause death.”

“It is better to allow women to seek these services in their hospitals to save life,” said Kagaba.

Abortion was previously illegal in Rwanda, with a prison sentence for anyone who had an abortion or helped in terminating a pregnancy.

But the law was changed in 2018 to say abortion is allowed in cases such as “rape, forced marriage, incest or cases where pregnancy poses a health risk”, but with a proviso that requires abortions to be carried out only after consultations with a doctor.

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Metro

Nigeria ranks 7th with international students’ enrolment in US

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A report released by the United States Embassy in Abuja has reveals that Nigeria is currently ranked seventh on the list of countries with international students enrolment in U.S. colleges and universities.

The report which was released on Tuesday, puts international students enrollment this year at a record-breaking 1,126,690, with Nigerian students’ enrolment rising to 20,029 students in 2023/2024.

The report titled, “2024 Open Doors Report on International Education Exchange” indicated a 13.5 percent increase from the previous year, placing Nigeria as Africa’s leading source of international students and 7th globally.

The Open Doors Report is an annual publication of the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“This milestone aligns with the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report, the leading benchmark for international educational exchange in the United States,” the report said.

“Notably, Nigeria with 20,029 students, reinforces its position as the top sending country from Africa and the seventh largest globally.

“Nigerian students bring a wealth of diversity, perspectives, and academic excellence to U.S. universities, enriching the educational experience for all students.

“Nigerian scholars are known for their strong academic backgrounds and commitment to advanced education, with over 55% pursuing graduate-level studies in the United States.

“The growth in Nigerian students choosing to study in the U.S. reflects both the strong U.S. commitment to high-quality education and the growing interest of Nigerian scholars in international academic experiences.

“It also highlights the importance of people-to-people connections that deepen understanding and strengthen bonds between Nigeria and the United States.”

Metro

Catholic bishops in Zambia decry ‘shrinking democratic space’, hounding of opposition parties

Published

22 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has decried what it describes as a shrinking and deteriorating democratic environment, marked by the arrests and prolonged detention of opposition leaders.

In a letter signed and issued by all 11 Catholic Bishops in Zambia in Lusaka on Sunday, the clerics lamented that at least six opposition leaders were currently facing charges linked to their political activities, highlighting what they termed as a significant restriction of democratic freedoms.

“We are gravely concerned by the shrinking democratic space in the country. For example, about six or more opposition leaders are facing the law simply because of their participation in political activism,” the letter stated.

The Catholic Bishops called on the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) to ensure fairness in the political landscape.

“We urge the government to tolerate divergent views and promote democracy in the country,” they said.

The Bishops also condemned the prolonged detention of political figures, journalists, and other individuals without trial, asserting that such practices undermine democratic principles.

“Of concern is the detention of individuals, journalists, and opposition political leaders for expressing their views on governance issues,” the letter read.

The pastoral letter also criticized the UPND government for its use of derogatory language against the Church, referencing UPND Secretary-General Batuke Imenda’s labelling of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda as “Lucifer.”

“The Church expected Mr. Imenda to apologize for his remarks, as they were not only an insult to Archbishop Banda but to the entire Catholic Church,” the Bishops emphasized.

The letter further condemned the deployment of police officers to the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, viewing it as a form of intimidation.