Human Rights Group Says Sharia Law Parts Should Be Taken Out of Nigeria’s Constitution

A human rights organization has called for Nigeria’s constitution to be updated to reflect the country’s secular values by eliminating all allusions to Islam.

In order to represent the secular nature of the country, a human rights organization working under the banner of the End Sharia Now Campaign has suggested that all references to Islam be immediately removed from the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

According to the organization, Nigeria cannot adopt a constitution that grants legal status to any religion, including Islam or Christianity, because it is a secular state.

According to a statement from Benson Sunday, the convener of the End Sharia Now Campaign, Section 10 of the constitution, which specifically forbids the adoption of any religion as the state religion, is in conflict with the constitutional entrenchment of Islamic legal systems in some sections of the legislation.

“Nigeria Is A Secular State — End Sharia In Nigerian Constitution Now!” is the title of the statement.

With more than 200 million citizens of various faiths, ethnicities, cultures, and philosophical beliefs, Nigeria is a proud and diverse country, according to the statement. When we gained our freedom, we were promised a nation run by democracy, equity, and the rule of law rather than by any one religion or tribal philosophy. “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly and solemnly resolved… to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God,” begins the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Additionally, Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified) states unequivocally that no state or federal government may declare any faith to be its official religion. Is this, however, the Nigeria of today?

“Our existing Constitution is strongly loaded with Islamic elements—terms, institutions, and legal provisions that contradict our secular national identity and directly enable 12 Northern states to operate a parallel Islamic legal system—despite the constitutional pledge of religious neutrality.

This is a constitutional crisis, not just a contradiction. The following startling figures are the result of our research and examination of the Nigerian Constitution: Sharia is mentioned 73 times, while Islam is mentioned 28 times.

Grand Kadi makes 54 appearances.

There are ten instances of Muslims.

These terms don’t have any historical or metaphorical meanings. They provide religious laws and actors official recognition and authority because they are ingrained in our republic’s legal system.

Here are a handful of examples:

Sections 260–264 of the Constitution, which establish a Sharia Court of Appeal for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with particular rules for Islamic law, are constitutional measures that embed Islam.

Sections 275–279: Give states the authority to create Sharia Courts of Appeal and specify their purview. “A person shall not be qualified to hold office as a Kadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal unless he is a Nigerian lawyer and a person of Islamic faith,” according to Section 277(1).

Sharia courts are granted the status of “superior courts of record” under Section 288(1), which grants them the same standing as secular courts. These inclusions are not benign. Twelve Northern states have been able to create fully operational Sharia law systems because to these legal tools. Islamic rules regarding clothing, alcohol use, gender roles, and even religious conversion are enforced by religious police (Hisbah) in these governments.

Even liberal Muslims and non-Muslims are frequently convicted and punished under religious laws they do not follow. This poses a serious threat to our unity and is unconstitutional and unfair.

What Takes Place in a Two-Law System?

“A nation that has two opposing legal systems—religious law for some and secular law for others—promotes religious division, injustice for minorities, laws that discriminate against people based on their faith, repression of the right to free thought and belief, and legal persecution of women and converts.”

This is precisely what has occurred in countries that identify as republics but follow Islamic law, such as Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan.

Will we end up like them?

Nigeria is not an Islamic state, to put it plainly. A theocracy is not what we are. We are a democratic, secular republic.

“Any constitution that grants legal sanction to any religion, whether it be Islam, Christianity, or another, is unacceptable to us.

Silence is no longer an option.

For this reason, we have started a nationwide petition drive. We are urging millions of Nigerians to join the thousands who have already joined.

“We ask that the following be done:

Sections 260–264 (Sharia Court of Appeal – Federal) and 275–279 (Sharia Court of Appeal – State) as well as provisions establishing the office of the Grand Khadi and Sharia judicial authority should be immediately removed from the 1999 Constitution. Additionally, any law or court that grants legal authority to any religious belief over citizens should be abolished. Finally, Section 10 of the Constitution, which forbids any kind of religious governance at the federal or state levels, should be reaffirmed and enforced.

“One Constitution,” the declaration continued. Just one law. for a single person. Let Nigeria revert to its original ideals of equality before the law, liberty, justice, and unity.

“Your Opinion Is Important. The time to talk is now. This problem is not limited to the North. This is not a matter of Islam versus Christianity. This is a problem in Nigeria. Every citizen, regardless of creed—Muslim, Christian, traditionalist, or atheist—should be protected by a single constitution rather than by religious laws specific to one faith.

“We urge all Nigerians who value freedom to support this campaign, including civil society, religious leaders, political representatives, student organizations, and traditional rulers.”

Let’s combine one million voices in support of a constitution that embodies our vision of a modern, democratic, united, and secular Nigeria.

“This generation stood for the truth; let history remember that.”

Let’s eliminate religious bias in the constitution. Let’s keep our unity intact. Let’s protect our future. One Nigeria. One People, One Law.