Islamic Council To US Lawmakers: Political Intimidation Can’t Stop Sharia Practice In Nigeria.

 

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has rejected calls from US lawmakers urging changes to the practice of Sharia law in the country. 

Sharia operates alongside statutory and customary laws in 12 northern states, mostly Muslim, where it has been applied as a core civil and criminal legal system since 1999. 

It guides the spiritual, moral, social, and legal life of Muslims in these regions.

The recent push from the United States claims that Sharia contributes to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

 The Nigerian federal government has dismissed this assertion. The US lawmakers’ position was reinforced in a report submitted to the White House earlier this week.

In response, the SCSN stated that no foreign authority can dictate the religious practice of Muslims in Nigeria. The council explained that Sharia is protected by the Nigerian constitution, which allows citizens to manage personal matters according to their faith. 

The statement described Nigeria as a sovereign nation with a plural legal system and said outside interference undermines the country’s independence and religious freedoms.

The council also disputed claims of a targeted “Christian genocide” in the country, saying such reports misrepresent the security challenges Nigeria faces.

 They pointed to terrorism, banditry, organized crime, and gaps in governance as the root causes of violence, affecting both Muslims and Christians. 

Presenting the violence as one-sided, the council said, is misleading and does not contribute to solving the nation’s problems.

The SCSN concluded that Sharia law will continue to function as part of Nigeria’s legal and moral framework, despite foreign pressure and misinformation campaigns.