ICC Note: Nigerian Christian leaders are urging the Nigerian House of Representatives not to pass a pending bill that will enable Sharia courts to try non-Muslims, including Christians. Nigeria’s constitution provides for a secular government referencing no particular religion above others. Christian leaders in Nigeria are concerned that this bill is part of a growing tendency of the government to favor Islam, thereby marginalizing and persecuting Christians. If this bill passes, certain disputes between Christians and Muslims would have to be heard in Sharia courts, according to Islamic law. Clerics are calling this a “conspiracy against Christians” and are urging the government to recognize that Sharia is a strictly Muslim law system and therefore should not be applied throughout Nigeria.

07/06/2016, Nigeria (AllAfrica) – Nigeria’s secularity must be faithfully guarded to ensure stability and progress, senior clergymen warned yesterday.

They pointedly told the House of Representatives not to pass into law the Sharia Bill pending before it.

If passed into law, the bill will empower Sharia Courts to try non-Muslims, including Christians in criminal cases.

They also noted that Christian Religious Studies (CRS) as a subject in school curricula was increasingly being treated with disdain and in some cases expunged amid lopsided federal appointments in favour of moslems.

Rising from the 111th general meeting of the church council in Takum Local Council of Taraba State, the leadership of the Christian Reformed Church-Nigeria (CRC-N), in a communique observed the said bill with dismay, saying it was aimed at igniting religious upheaval in the country.

Also, a pro-democracy on-governmental organization, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the minister of Interior Affairs, retired General Abdulrahman Danbazau, of breaching section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) by taking directives from a private religious leader- the Sultan of Sokoto- in adjusting a national holiday from two to three days.

The group also carpeted the Federal Government “for creating a considerable degree of uncertainty and causing commotion to businesses and the private sector by the unilateral and impromptu declaration of the extension of the public holiday to mark the end of the fasting season by adherents of the Moslem faith.”

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