Islamic leaders in Nigeria have rejected a recommendation by a United States congressional panel asking the Federal Government to scrap Sharia and blasphemy laws, saying the demand touches on national sovereignty, the constitution and fragile interfaith relations in the country.
Those who spoke include an official of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs who asked not to be named, Sheikh Sidi Munir of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Nurudeen Khalid, former Chief Imam of the National Assembly Legislative Quarters Juma’at Mosque in Abuja, and Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of Muslim Rights Concern.
The US panel’s report followed hearings, expert consultations and fact-finding visits to Nigeria and suggested possible sanctions, visa bans and a new security partnership to protect vulnerable communities, while also urging Nigeria to show clear action against religious persecution and insecurity.
Responding, the NSCIA official said the matter remains a consular and policy issue and that the body will comment formally at the appropriate time.
From Sokoto, Sheikh Sidi Munir said the controversy reflects long-standing global tensions between Muslim communities and the United States and argued that Nigeria’s legal system, which includes Sharia and customary courts, is part of its domestic law and cultural diversity, not proof that Nigeria is an Islamic state. He added that the next steps will depend on diplomatic talks, constitutional processes and how Nigerian authorities choose to respond.
In Abuja, Sheikh Nurudeen Khalid warned that any attempt to remove Sharia from Nigeria’s constitutional framework would be highly divisive and could inflame religious sensitivities. He noted that many Muslims would strongly resist such a move, while many Christians remain uncomfortable with Sharia provisions in the constitution.
Khalid advised the government to retain the Sharia Penal Code that existed before Zamfara State’s expanded version of Sharia, saying the earlier framework, which does not include the death penalty, could offer a more balanced and peaceful arrangement for Nigerians.
Professor Ishaq Akintola questioned the wider motives behind the US recommendations and urged Nigerians to examine whose interests they serve. He pointed out that the same report allegedly asked Nigeria to stop buying weapons from Russia and purchase arms only from the United States and argued that such a shift would benefit the US government and economy more than Nigeria.
The Islamic leaders and scholars stressed that the Sharia debate is highly sensitive in Nigeria and warned that any major policy changes made under foreign pressure could have serious religious and political consequences. Efforts to reach the President of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Sheikh Bashir Aliyu Umar, were unsuccessful at the time of filing the report.
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