ICC Note: Christians in Nigeria are concerned about a proposed amendment to the country’s constitution. The amendment would expand the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court from just handling Islamic personal law to also encompassing criminal law, essentially expanding the application of Sharia law throughout the country. Sharia law has often ushered in further persecution of Christians as it requires individuals to conform to the requirements of Islam in their daily activities.

6/7/2016 Nigeria (The Christian Times)– A coalition of Christian groups in Nigeria is reportedly alleging that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is attempting to Islamize the country “through the backdoor.” This is in relation to a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution that would expand the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal to handle not just civil cases but also criminal matters.

“The proposed amendment is a desecration of the sanctity of the FCT as a symbol of national unity, which should be preserved,” said Solomon Asemota, spokesperson of the coalition and national president of the National Christian Elders Forum, as quoted by Daily Trust. “Nigeria’s membership of religious organisations and associations, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperating Countries and the Coalition of Islamic Nations against ISIS, is insensitive, against our best national security interest and democratic and democratic norms.”

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