2.2—Carol and Fatima: We believe in God and are women of Faith

Currents: the Big Ocean Women Podcast

In this episode, Carolina discusses religious liberty and persecution with Fatima Njoku, a WAVE leader from Jos, Nigeria. Fatima emphasizes that it is important for everyone to know their rights, be respectful, and hold everyone to the same rule of law which should protect everyone’s rights of religion and expression.

In Fatima’s advocacy she found that “most of the minority rights issues were linked to religious identities.” She also said, “Freedom of religion and belief has a lot of connections into other things… When we talk about human rights, it links in many ways.” - Fatima Njoku

“We have to respect each other's religion and religious belief and objects of faith, right, but then there has to be clearly defined boundaries.” - Fatima Njoku

“We have to at some point recognize boundaries and recognize where your freedoms end and someone else’s begins.” - Fatima Njoku

Why should the world care about this?

“Many lives are at stake… when it happens to one, it happens to all. How many countries can handle a refugee crisis from Nigeria?” - Fatima Njoku

What is the solution?

“We have started by talking about it. Keep talking about it and raising these issues and keep raising these issues. Secondly, is to educate people. We need to have workshops and educate people on their human rights and then victims of these types of things…. We have to care for them and support them. Keep denouncing these types of things.” - Fatima Njoku

“When we hear that something is happening to people, let’s not feel that because it doesn’t affect us directly that we don’t care; we really need to care, and there’s always something that we can do.” - Fatima Njoku

Fatima Njoku is a lawyer working in Nigeria and currently a doctorate candidate at the University of Jos. She has been a human rights advocate for over 11 years, in the course of her advocacy, she has been to the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva, she had meetings at Capitol Hill, House of Lords, Swiss Press Club and the like. She has been serving her community through Big Ocean Women in Nigeria where more than 50 women meet regularly for encouragement around the importance of faith, family, and motherhood. This group also carries out community development projects that have touched many lives.

Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.