A Liberian woman, Rebecca C. Johnson, has filed for asylum in Canada, citing threats to her life due to her refusal to undergo forced initiation into the traditional Sande Society. She also alleges threats from her family after converting from Islam to Christianity and attempting to marry outside her religion.
Early Life and Religious Struggles
Rebecca Johnson, a native of Pleebo City, Maryland County, Liberia, was born into a devout Muslim family. She was raised in an Islamic environment and attended only Islamic schools. However, in 2021, she made the decision to convert to Christianity after falling in love with her fiancee, Melvin Zikeh, a Christian. This decision was met with immediate rejection from her family, leading to her expulsion from her home.
Sande Society and Family Pressure
Rebecca claims that her mother, Esther Johnson, was a Chief Zoe (traditional leader) of the Sande Society, a secretive traditional institution known for its initiation practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM). According to Rebecca, her mother was expected to pass down this role to her, as dictated by family tradition. However, Rebecca refused to undergo the initiation or take over her mother’s position.
Following her refusal, Rebecca began receiving threats from her mother’s eldest brother, who warned her that she “would not live to enjoy her marriage.” On September 6, 2022, he allegedly called her, threatening her life if she went ahead with her wedding. She reported the matter to the local police in Pleebo City, but no action was taken, as officers considered it a “traditional and family matter.”
Relocation and Further Threats
Fearing for her safety, Rebecca and her children fled to Monrovia in December 2022. However, she continued to receive threats from her family. In April 2023, while away on business, she learned that her fiancee had allegedly raped her stepdaughter. When confronted, he not only threatened her but also warned that he would disclose her location to her family if she reported him.
Rebecca eventually reported him to the police, but he evaded arrest. She then fled to Grand Cape Mount County with her children, hoping to remain hidden. However, in June 2023, she encountered her uncle at a marketplace, where he allegedly attempted to force her to return home for initiation. Local residents intervened, but her uncle vowed to continue pursuing her.
Amid continued threats, Rebecca learned about a travel agent who could assist her in relocating to Canada. She managed to secure a visa in July 2023 but had to raise additional funds for travel expenses and the upkeep of her children, whom she left in the care of a friend.
In September 2023, she was once again confronted by her uncle and several men who attempted to forcibly take her to the Sande shrine. A violent confrontation ensued, but a local market leader, Morris S. Fallah, helped her escape. This was the last time she saw her children.
Three days later, on September 13, 2023, Rebecca fled Liberia and arrived in Canada, where she is now seeking asylum. She is appealing to the Canadian government for protection and assistance in reuniting with her children.
“I am asking the Canadian Government to please grant me protection and help me get my kids over. Going back to Liberia will be the end of my life,” Rebecca pleaded.
Her case shows ongoing human rights concerns surrounding forced initiation practices and religious persecution in Liberia.
