Cameroonians use faith, migration against spiritual abuse, religious violence

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – Said Muhammad Abdurhamane is a 30-year-old Muslim convert in Doula, the economic capital of Cameroon, who has faced religious violence at the hands of his family.

He is one of the youths Anadolu Agency spoke to ahead of International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, a day designated by the UN for states to step up their efforts to combat intolerance, discrimination and violence against persons based on religion or belief.

The General Assembly commemorates the day on Aug. 22 every year, recognizing the importance of providing victims with appropriate support and assistance.

"Faith moves mountains,” said Abdurhamane, who converted for a second time to Islam three months ago. He left Catholicism because he disagreed with the things he was taught.

"When I converted to Islam without telling my relatives, my family insulted me and denigrated my new religion. They did everything to dissuade me and finally kicked me out of the house," he said. "With no source of income or place to go, I was taken in for two months by a Muslim friend whose father was an imam."

He followed the encouragement of his host and tried to return home.

"My family agreed to let me return. But it was hypocrisy. My relatives took advantage of my return to continue their verbal abuse against me and my religion. But the imam advised me not to doubt my religious choice and that only with my faith and sincerity God will help me to face any fight,” he added.

But Abdurhamane chose to move because he did not fully enjoy his religious learning at home. He migrated to Chad, where he was to learn a trade in the oil sector.

"This journey also saved me from violence and contempt from my family. When I came back, things calmed down, even if sometimes I still receive unpleasant words," he added.

To avoid spiritual abuse, Abdurhamane believes that religious communities should do more to support the full integration of new converts.

According to him, families should understand that every human being has a destiny and that religion is an individual choice. "They should seek to understand or encourage converts if they can, rather than opt for unnecessary verbal and physical abuse," he said.

- When leaving becomes imperative

Moving has also been a solution to violence experienced by other Muslims since their conversion.

"Luckily, I went to study elsewhere in another country. So I had the freedom to live my religion without hiding and being attacked," said Yasmine Ebongue, a Douala-based Muslim convert.

Ten years ago, the young woman decided not to set foot in a church. She "chose Islam as the religion that suits her personality and her quest to get closer to God."

Following this decision, which she "does not regret," her parents and friends began to make fun of her, abandoning her and setting traps to leave her new religion.

Even after several years, "they are convinced that I have been brainwashed and married a Muslim in secret. They also make fun of my attire and say that my religion has made me grow old," she said.

She confided that at first, her family completely excluded her from family celebrations.

"They thought I was an outsider ... my mother used to serve me meals with pieces of pig meat and laugh at me," she said, adding that she was not allowed to invite Muslim friends to the family house.

"My cousins used to laugh when they saw me praying with my forehead on the floor. It was an ordeal," Ebongue lamented.

After three years of university studies in communication, she returned to her country but has since decided to live alone, and maintain a good relationship with her family.

"They are less violent now ... they have realized that they can't do anything about my faith and have seen that my religion has not made me bad like they predicted," she said.

- ‘You will Islamize, you will see for yourself’

At 19, Cabrel Ndengue, a Cameroonian apprentice bricklayer in Douala, has been living with his Muslim guardians for a year.

But being the only Christian in the house, he is under strong pressure to become a Muslim.

"You will Islamize, you will see for yourself. You have no choice in this house," he quoted his guardians as saying. "Because of this constant pressure, I don't feel comfortable at home. I like to stay outside and do my job and go home when people sleep. That is a way to avoid hearing the same debate."

He intends to keep his faith despite this, and plans to leave the house.

The UN this year has called on all societies to collectively reject hate and exclusion, and for an end to impunity for violent acts driven by religion or belief.

In a statement, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said religious or other ideologies and beliefs can never be evoked to justify attacks against life, human dignity and rights.

It urged individual states and the international community to take appropriate measures to ensure the promotion of peaceful, just and inclusive societies, in line with the global commitments under the 2030 Development Agenda.