I Was Not Born A Muslim, But My Parents Felt They Should Give Me An Arabic Name” Hassan John

African Laison, Christian Solidarity International, Hassan John has exposed the systemic discrimination faced by Christians in northern Nigeria, revealing that even his own name reflects the pressure Christians face to adopt Islamic-sounding names for survival and opportunity.

“My name is Hassan not because it’s an Arabic name but not because I was born Muslim it’s just because when I was born we were born twins so my parents felt well if you it was the norm then to just have an Arabic or Islamic sounding name because it gives you a better opportunity,” John explained to CBN.

He described this as part of the first level of persecution—subtle but pervasive discrimination that Christians have lived with for many years. “If you live as a Christian in northern Nigeria, you know that you are denied certain privileges within the government,” John stated.

John emphasized that Christians have learned to adjust and cope with various levels of harassment from the Muslim community in northern Nigeria. This background of systemic discrimination, he explained, preceded the violent attacks that began escalating from 1999 onward.

The CSI liaison noted that this everyday persecution often goes unnoticed internationally but forms the foundation of the challenges Christians face. While Christians hoped the government would protect them despite this discrimination, the situation deteriorated into violent attacks.

John’s revelation highlights how Christian families made calculated decisions about naming their children to improve their prospects in a system that systematically disadvantages religious minorities.

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