Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has defended the continued operation of Sharia law in parts of Nigeria, describing it as a constitutional and religious right of Muslims, amid reported pressure from some United States lawmakers seeking its abolition.
Gumi was reacting to reports that certain members of the US Congress submitted a memorandum to President Donald Trump, urging the US government to push for the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
In a post on his verified social media page on Tuesday, the Kaduna-based cleric insisted that Muslims have the right to be governed by religious injunctions, just as he claimed the United States protects Christian interests.
“Sharia law is the Muslims’ prerogative, just as the US found it necessary to protect Christians,” he wrote.
He further alleged that Muslims in Nigeria were victims of what he described as “occult terror” imported into the country by unnamed forces.
“At the same time, Muslims are more victims of this occult terror imported into the country by hidden forces they very well know,” Gumi stated, without providing details.
The cleric also questioned what he termed a double standard in global conversations on religion and governance.
“It’s okay for a US evangelical Christian administration for Israel to live by biblical stories, yet it is haram for Muslims to live by Quranic injunctions,” he added.
Sharia law operates alongside the conventional legal system in several northern states of Nigeria, particularly in matters relating to personal status, marriage, inheritance and other civil issues involving Muslims.
Criminal provisions under Sharia have, however, drawn both domestic and international criticism over the years.
While the reported submission by US lawmakers has yet to receive an official response from the Nigerian government, the development has reignited debate over the place of religion in the country’s legal framework.
Legal analysts note that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and allows states to establish Sharia courts for civil matters involving consenting Muslims.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the US Congress clarifying the scope or status of the alleged report.
The controversy comes amid heightened diplomatic sensitivities between Nigeria and the United States over issues ranging from religious freedom to security cooperation.
Efforts to reach federal authorities for comment were unsuccessful on Tuesday night.
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