Criminalising Suicide: Yay or Nay?
September is suicide awareness month, and as much as we like to bury our heads in the sand and pretend like it doesn’t exist, shouting “God Forbid” and “Allah ya Kiyaye”, the sad reality is that it does exist; very much so in Nigeria. However, today we are going to discuss the legality of suicide […]
The legality of suicide and attempted suicide has long been a topic of debate, particularly in Nigeria where it remains a criminal act. Historically, suicide was considered a crime in England and Christianity-based societies, with the deceased being denied a proper burial and their family stripped of their belongings. In Islam, suicide also carries grave consequences as the deceased is denied a Janaza, or Islamic burial.
However, today about half of the world's countries have decriminalized suicide, including Nigeria, following the Federal Government's approval of decriminalization. The shift in perspective is primarily driven by the recognition of suicide attempts as symptoms of severe mental distress, rather than criminal acts. In Nigeria, the decriminalization of attempted suicide is seen as a public health and human rights imperative.
The government believes that people experiencing mental health crises should receive care and support rather than punishment, aiming to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking. This change in policy marks a significant step towards recognizing suicide attempts as a medical and psychological emergency, emphasizing empathy and appropriate intervention over criminal judgment.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
