• FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba displays a placard during the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign in Lusaka yesterday.

By NAKUBIANA  MUMBUNA-
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott and First Lady Christine Kaseba yesterday led Cabinet and deputy ministers, civil society organisations, Church leaders and senior Government officials in demanding the immediate release of abducted girls in Nigeria.
Zambia joined the World in the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign condemning the abduction of more than 200 girls by Islamist militant Boko Haram.
The event held at the Civic Centre in Lusaka was organised by the Zambia Cares, a consortium of civil society organisations, politicians, the Church and individuals.
Dr Scott said the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign was not against any religion but against terrorists.
Dr Scott said atrocities committed in the name of Islam were an abuse on the religion which believed in peace and love.
At the same event, Dr Kaseba condemned the abduction and continued harassment of the girls.
Dr Kaseba, who began her speech with a prayer, said Zambians joined the World in condemning the abduction of innocent girls.
She noted that the abduction was an atrocious crime and called for unconditional release of the girls.
She said what had happened in Nigeria should never be allowed to happen anywhere in the World and called for stringent measures that would guarantee the safety of girls.
Dr Kaseba also revealed that two Muslim women were attacked in Lusaka by unknown people who accused them of belonging to Boko Haram by their nature of being Muslims.
The First Lady said the action was barbaric and should not be allowed to go unpunished.
“Zambia is a peaceful country and respects all religions, what happened on Friday to some Muslim women should not be entertained in Zambia because this country respects every religion,” she said.
The First Lady also called for an end to all forms of gender based violence (GBV) in Zambia.
Islamic Council of Zambia Secretary General Sheik Shaban Phiri was among the speakers and condemned the abduction of the girls.
Mr Phiri said the behaviour of Boko Haram did not reflect the religion of Islam because Islam believed in peace and love.
He called on the International community to come to the aid of the Nigerian Government and help in the release of the abducted girls.
United Nations (UN) resident coordinator Janet Rogan said the abduction of the girls was an infringement on their rights.
The function was attended by civic and religious leaders, members of the United Nations family in Zambia and members of the Islamic Community in Zambia.