Shari’ah council decries attempt to suppress Southwest Muslims’ religious rights

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has expressed its dismay over attempts to prevent Muslims in the Southwest from observing Sharia law, which is an integral part of their Islamic obligations.

The Council asserted that this law will enable Muslims in the Southwest to practice Sharia in harmony with their Christian neighbours within their communities.

Additionally, the Council lamented that despite the general belief that the political landscape would favour the Muslim community, the opposite is true; millions of Muslims are currently politically marginalized under the present federal government.

Speaking at the Pre-Ramadan Lecture held at the headquarters of Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI) in Kaduna on Monday, Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyyatullah, the President of the Shari’ah Council, reminded the federal government that the socioeconomic hardships faced by the country are becoming unbearable and urged that solutions be found without further delay.

“We have seen Nigerians vote for people of the same Islamic faith into the Presidency without turning the country into an unceasing battlefield, but we have not seen justice and equity done to all communities, irrespective of their faiths.

“Millions of Muslims are politically marginalized in many parts of the country, in spite of their numbers and the constitutional demands for justice, and we see a nation growing in indifference over Muslim grievances.

“As we speak, we are witnessing an alarming and crude attempt to muscle South West Muslims out of their rights to organize perfectly legitimate mechanisms that will assist them to improve how they live with fellow Christians as members of families and communities.

“The Council is deeply concerned by recent developments, especially revelations on government-owned weapons falling into criminal hands and the Auditor-General’s report to the Senate on the disappearance of 3,907 rifles from the police armoury, with no consequences. These developments require urgent and decisive action by the government”.

“The Supreme Council for Shari’ah has been a longstanding partner in the progress and development of our nation. For over two decades, the Council has actively contributed to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development, with the unity of the Ummah as the cornerstone of our efforts.

“As a religious body, one of its core objectives is the realization of a prosperous Ummah and a country that is economically, socially, educationally, and politically viable. Despite the formidable challenges facing our nation, we remain steadfast in our commitment to contributing to its success”.

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