Shariah Practice Is Constitutional and Non-Negotiable in Nigeria – Shari’ah Council Replies US
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has declared that no authority—local or foreign—can compel Nigerian Muslims to abandon the practice of Shariah, describing it as a constitutionally guaranteed and integral part of their faith.
In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, the Council was reacting to a recent report submitted to U.S. President Donald Trump by members of the United States Congress. The report followed an investigation into alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The submission was reportedly led by Riley Moore, a representative of West Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, alongside Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. The lawmakers highlighted Shariah and blasphemy laws in some northern Nigerian states as areas of concern and recommended their repeal, alongside proposals for a U.S.–Nigeria security pact and possible sanctions, including visa bans on alleged violators.
The SCSN, however, faulted the report, describing it as a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s complex security realities and an unfair challenge to the religious rights of Muslims.
“For clarity,” the Council stated, “Shariah constitutes a comprehensive way of life for Muslims, encompassing spiritual, moral, social, and legal dimensions. It is the divinely ordained framework through which Muslims regulate their personal and communal affairs.”
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The Council maintained that the practice of Shariah is protected under Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and allows adherents to regulate personal matters in line with their beliefs. It noted that Shariah courts operate within constitutional limits and exercise jurisdiction strictly over Muslims.
According to the Council, any attempt to criminalise or delegitimise Shariah practice, or to externally dictate how Nigerian Muslims observe their religion, undermines Nigeria’s sovereignty, constitutional order, and the principle of religious freedom.
The SCSN also rejected what it described as the propagation of a “Christian genocide” narrative, arguing that such claims oversimplify and distort Nigeria’s security challenges.
“The violence confronting the nation stems from terrorism, banditry, organised criminality, and governance deficits,” the statement read. “These challenges have claimed the lives of both Muslims and Christians alike.”
Framing the crisis as a one-sided religious genocide, the Council said, is inaccurate and risks inflaming tensions rather than fostering peace.
While condemning all acts of violence across the country, the Council expressed sympathy for victims irrespective of religious affiliation and cautioned against politicising human suffering.
It further urged the Federal Government and state authorities to take decisive steps to restore security, stressing that the primary responsibility of government remains the protection of lives and property and the restoration of public confidence through justice and accountability.
As Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan, the Council called on the faithful to intensify prayers for peace, unity, and stability in Nigeria. It also urged Muslims to remain law-abiding, steadfast in their faith, and committed to peaceful coexistence with fellow citizens.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us,” the statement concluded. “Our faith is not negotiable, our Constitution is clear, and our sovereignty must be respected by other nations and protected by our government.”
By PRNigeria
