The governor of a state in north Nigeria has decided against statewide implementation of Sharia law, the strict Islamic penal code.
In his announcement Oct. 11, Kaduna state Gov. Mohammed Ahmed Makarfi said he wanted to respect the plurality of faiths within his state.
He told the Agence France Press, “What we want is peace in Kaduna State.” More than 1,000 people were killed in Kaduna in February when Christians there staged a protest against Muslim demands for Sharia law in the state. Hundreds more have died in fighting since.
“The state shall not profess any particular religion,” Makarfi said, according to Reuters news agency. “Agreed that Islam is supreme to a Muslim as Christianity is supreme to a Christian, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is supreme.” Makarfi said he has submitted proposals to the state assembly that would still retain customary courts but would also allow local authorities in predominantly Muslim parts of the state to use Islamic courts.
In certain Christian enclaves, such as Wusasa and Sabon Gari districts, local authorities could not adopt Sharia law, he said.
“These safeguards … are necessary and expedient in preserving our complexity and accommodating our plurality and differences,” he said, stressing that only police would have the authority to impose laws.
“Let me emphasize here that the government would not condone or allow any individual or organization to impose or implement any law in the state,” Makarfi said
Eight states in northern Nigeria (which is mainly Muslim) have adopted Sharia law or plan to do so.
Christians, who comprise some 10 percent of the northern states’ population, and other non-Muslims say they fear some aspects of Islamic law are harsher than the Nigerian penal code. (RNS)
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