You can’t stop Sharia practice in Nigeria – Islamic Council tells US lawmakers

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has rejected calls by some United States lawmakers urging an end to the practice of Sharia law in the country, describing the proposal as misinformed and an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Sharia operates alongside statutory and customary law in Nigeria and is implemented mainly in 12 northern states, where it was formally adopted in 1999 as a principal body of civil and criminal law for Muslim communities. It provides a religious, moral and legal framework for adherents of Islam.

In a statement, SCSN Secretary General Nafiu Ahmad said Sharia represents a comprehensive way of life for Muslims and cannot be abandoned due to external pressure. “No power or authority can arrogantly make Muslims relinquish its practice in response to external pressure, misinformation, or political intimidation,” the council stated.

The council stressed that Sharia practice in Nigeria is constitutionally protected, noting that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and permits individuals to manage personal and family matters in accordance with their faith.

SCSN also dismissed allegations of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, arguing that such claims misrepresent the country’s broader security challenges. It said Nigeria faces terrorism, banditry, organised crime and governance issues that have affected both Muslims and Christians.

“The government appears either indifferent or incapable of resolving the security problem which has claimed the lives of Muslims and Christians alike,” the statement added, describing attempts to frame the violence strictly as religious persecution as “inaccurate and unhelpful.”

The council concluded that Nigeria’s plural legal system and multi-religious character should be respected, warning that external interference in Sharia practice would be unwarranted and counterproductive.