March 2001 Africa News Headlines

Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - Web posted at 9:51:04 AM GMT

Nigerian Roman Catholic bishops condem imposition of Sharia law

LAGOS - Nigeria's Roman Catholic bishops have condemned the introduction of strict Islamic law in some northern states, describing it as "irresponsible and unacceptable."

Many Nigerians feel that their rights are being infringed upon where the Sharia (Islamic) law has been imposed as the state law," the bishops said in a joint statement released at the weekend after a conference."

"Because of Sharia, thousands of people have been forced to relocate from their places and work at great cost and loss to themselves.

Others suffer in silence because they are too poor to relocate or powerless to seek legal redress," the statement said.

Ten states in northern Nigeria have adopted or announced plans to introduce the Sharia, which includes punishments for drinking, gambling, prostitution and adultery.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in riots in northern Nigeria as Christians have protested against the introduction of Sharia as the law of the states concerned, extending it beyond the family and religious domains.

The government of President Olusegun Obasanjo has objected to the extension of Sharia in secular Nigeria, where Muslims predominate in the north and Christians in the south, but has been cautious about direct intervention in the issue.

A number of Christians have been flogged in some northern states, having been convicted by Islamic courts of contravening the law.

The bishops also attacked the outlook of politicians, accusing them of neglecting those who elected them into office."

"We see many members of the political class... looking not to the needs, even the most basic needs of the people, but spending time and money looking only to how they can be re-elected two years from now.

- Nampa-Sapa-AFP