The Digest:
The United States Congress recommendation demanding the repeal of Sharia codes and anti-blasphemy laws in Nigeria has sparked widespread outrage among Islamic clerics and northern leaders. The joint report by the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees, submitted to the White House Monday, also called for disarmament of Fulani herdsmen and blocking beef exports. Kaduna-based cleric Ahmad Gumi defended Sharia as "Muslims' prerogative," questioning double standards where US evangelical Christians support Israel based on biblical stories but oppose Muslims living by Quranic injunctions. Sheikh Halliru Maraya warned the issue is "sensitive and double-edged," noting both Muslims and Christians are victims of violence, citing over 4,000 killed in Kaduna (2015-2023), mostly Muslims. Former NEF spokesman Hakeem Baba-Ahmed described the recommendations as "provocative" and an attempt to "balkanise" Nigeria. Prof Jibrin Ibrahim criticised the US for "simplistic interpretation" of complex security crises. The FG responded that the report is a "catalyst for broader cooperation" while affirming Nigeria's sovereignty.
Key Points:
- The recommendation threatens to inflame religious tensions and constitutional debates.
- It ignores the complex reality where both Muslims and Christians are victims of violence.
- Islamic leaders assert rights, while Christians may feel vindicated by US stance.
- This signals deepening US intervention in Nigeria's religious and legal affairs.
- The timing, with 2027 approaching, could influence political dynamics.
US demand to scrap Sharia triggers outrage, with clerics, northern leaders warning against "provocative" interference in Nigeria's constitutional framework.
Sources: Daily Trust, US Congress Report, FG Statement
