The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has emphasized the constitutional rights of Muslims to Shari’a adjudication in Nigeria amidst recent controversies over the establishment of Shari’a arbitration panels in South-West states.
In a statement issued on Sunday, JNI Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, revealed that the demand for Shari’a adjudication in civil matters is not a call for conflict but a quest for constitutional justice.
The organization expressed deep concern over what it termed as undue resistance, inflammatory rhetoric, and misrepresentation of facts by certain groups opposing the Shari’a arbitration panels.
“The Right to Shari’a Adjudication is Constitutional,” the statement affirmed, citing Sections 38 and 275-279 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantee religious freedoms, including the operation of Shari’a courts for civil matters where applicable.
JNI clarified that these panels do not encroach upon the rights of non-Muslims but rather provide a voluntary alternative dispute resolution mechanism for Muslims choosing to settle personal matters such as marriage, inheritance, and family disputes according to Islamic law.
“The panels are strictly for Muslims, adjudicating only cases where both parties consent—a practice observed in various pluralistic societies worldwide,” JNI reiterated.
It condemned the selective opposition to Shari’a courts in some parts of Nigeria, warning of potential consequences that could exacerbate tensions and marginalize the Muslim community.
Calling on state governments in the South-West to respect religious freedoms, JNI urged for the protection of Muslims’ rights to religious adjudication within the bounds of law and order.
It pledged to collaborate with stakeholders including state governments, religious leaders, and traditional institutions to ensure these rights are upheld and respected.
The statement concluded with a plea for tolerance and mutual respect, emphasizing that the establishment of Shari’a panels should be viewed as a mechanism aimed at promoting harmony and upholding constitutional rights rather than a source of division.
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