TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium have rocked the world. For the second time in the past six months, a major European capital was struck by terrorists with ties to ISIS.
Alabama basketball standout and student Retin Obasohan has a special connection to the tragedy, as he left his native Belgium to come to play for the Crimson Tide. The young man grew up a mere 30 minute drive from the latest terrorist attack took place.
After waking up to his worst nightmare, Obasohan began frantically making calls to those back home. The first person he reached was his boyhood best friend, Oscar, who lives near Brussels. Eventually, he got in contact with his family.
“My family is good,” Obasohan told the Crimson White. “They’re safe, feeling well. It’s good to see my mother and my brothers and my father smile when I was talking to them.”
“I always believe whenever adversity hits you can either run away from God or run to God,” Obasohan said. “This is another opportunity for the human race to run to God, to know our God is good, and that no matter how bad these attacks were, there’s always hope.”
Despite the horrendous nature of the attack, the Belgian, an outspoken Christian, refused to falter in his rejection of violence.
“I don’t believe in hurting innocent people,” Obasohan said. “Not everybody believes in what I believe in, and I understand that. But I know that as a people, we can’t continue hurting other people. That’s not what we’re put on this earth to do, and as we can see, it doesn’t help us.”
Remaining proud of his homeland, Obasohan also emphasized that the terrorist strike will bring his countrymen closer together.
“I love my country,” Obasohan said. “I love Brussels, I love Antwerp, I love every city in my country. I’ve been all over the place. I know, as a citizen of Belgium, these are things that will only bring us closer together. This are things that will only make us stronger. Brussels is still a beautiful city. Struggle is not going to change that; adversity is not going to change that.”
Obasohan will travel back to Belgium in the summer without worry and without trepidation, he said.
“I won’t fly in fear,” he said. “I won’t live my life in fear. The Bible says He gave us a spirit of courage. I’m not going to live scared. I’m not going to travel scared, I’m not going to fly back to Belgium scared, I’m not going to drive my car to the gym scared. I’m going to live with the confidence that whatever happens is meant to happen and God will turn it all for good.”
The Bama basketball star has always been very forward about his faith in God, and his remarks Tuesday are only the latest in his practice of speaking up on his religion. He is a member of the Tuscaloosa Church of the Highlands and even brought Coach Avery Johnson along with him on one occasion.
“I’ll keep preaching love,” he said. “Because love is our greatest weapon, more than anything.”
