Pat Stevens/
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has strongly criticised the growing resistance against the establishment of Sharia Arbitration Panels in Ekiti and Oyo States, describing it as an affront to the constitutional rights of Muslims in the region.
In a press release dated January 29, 2025, the council, led by its President-General, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, decried what it called a wave of intolerance and disregard for the religious freedoms of Muslims, particularly in the South-West.
The council cited the indefinite postponement of the Sharia Arbitration Panel in Oyo State as evidence of unwarranted political and traditional opposition.
The NSCIA explained that the Sharia Arbitration Panel is a voluntary mechanism aimed at resolving civil and marital disputes among consenting Muslims.
According to the council, the initiative is in line with the provisions of Section 275 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows for Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal.
However, it lamented that while northern states operate such courts freely, the same rights are denied to Muslims in southern states.
The council also pointed to other instances of rights violations, including the refusal to allow female Muslim students to wear hijabs in some schools, despite a Supreme Court ruling in their favour.
These actions, the NSCIA said, are calculated attempts to prevent Muslims from practicing their faith.
Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the NSCIA, called on governors and traditional authorities in the southern region to address these issues and ensure the rights of Muslims are protected.
“While others are allowed to live, Muslims should also be let live,” the council stated.
The NSCIA reaffirmed its support for the establishment of Sharia Arbitration Panels in Ekiti and Oyo States and condemned what it described as baseless resistance fueled by alarmist narratives.
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