The proposal to establish Sharia panels in Southwest, specifically Oyo State is the people’s constitutional right, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has said.
The Muslim group while reacting to the controversy caused by the call for constituting Sharia Panels in the Southwest region said the proposal is not a privilege.
Khalid Aliyu, JNI’s Secretary General said the outrage brewing over the proposal is unnecessary and an outright distortion of fact by some individuals and groups.
Aliyu expressed concerns over the outrage while stating that such is the least expected from a people who claim to be tolerant.
He said, “The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the religious freedoms of all citizens, including Muslims.
“Specifically, sections 38 and 275-279 provide for the establishment and operation of Shari’a courts for civil matters where applicable,” Aliyu stated.
Further assuring that Sharia law does not impede on the rights of non-Muslims, Aliyu said it is an approach used in settling disputes in marriage, inheritance and land matters in line with Islamic law.
“For the discerning mind, Islam has very interesting and enriching inheritance codes that have remained inalienable to Muslims’ lives. It is, therefore, mischievous and deceptive to suggest that these panels aim to ‘impose’ Shari’a on non-Muslims.
“The panels are strictly for Muslims, adjudicating only cases where both parties consent, a practice that exists in various pluralistic societies worldwide,” he said.
