22nd January, 2025
PRESS RELEASE:
STOP THE
LIES ABOUT SHARIAH PANELS IN YORUBALAND – MURIC
As Yoruba nation agitators continue to oppose the
establishment of Shari’ah panels in Yorubaland, an Islamic human rights
organization has pointed accusing fingers at extremist Christians and Yoruba
nation groups of being behind the spread of misinformation and opposition to
the operation of Shari’ah panels in Yorubaland.
The group insisted that the ongoing opposition to
the practice of civil Shari’ah in the geo-political zone as well as deliberate
lies about the Islamic legal system provide strong evidence that there is no
religious tolerance in the South-West. It also points to the fact that Muslims
in the region are facing religious persecution, social strangulation and forceful
assimilation into other faiths.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday,
22nd January, 2025 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor
Ishaq Akintola.
He said:
“There is increasing evidence that extremist
Christians and Yoruba nation agitators are behind the opposition to the
establishment of Shari’ah panels in Yorubaland.
“One of such evidence surfaced at the NUJ Press
Centre, Ibadan on Wednesday, 15th January, 2025 when one Pastor Oluwafemi
J. Edafemi led a Yoruba nation group, the Yorùbá Nation Religious Council
(YONAREC) to hold a press conference.
“The group falsely accused Muslims in the region
of attempting to ‘forcefully’ introduce Shari’ah in the region (https://fmino.gov.ng/yoruba-groups-warn-against-proposed-sharia-court-in-oyo-yorubaland-write-makinde/).
“We assert
clearly, categorically and unequivocally that at no point in time did Yoruba
Muslims make any attempt to ‘forcefully’ introduce Shari’ah anywhere in
Yorubaland. We challenge this Yoruba group to provide evidence backing its
allegation that Yoruba Muslims are using force to introduce Shari’ah.
“What the Muslims have done in
the South-West is to establish Shari’ah panels (not courts) in Lagos, Oyo,
Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti states to cater for family needs of Muslims.
“It is
important to note that Yoruba Muslims resorted to setting up these private and
informal Shari’ah panels after the state governments in the region refused to establish
Shari’ah courts in the region as stipulated in Sections 275(1), 276 and 277 of
the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“These Shari’ah panels are not new as that of
Lagos State was established as far back as 2003 (22 years ago). A panel is a
committee, not a court and there is no law in Nigeria which criminalises the
setting up of a committee to settle rifts between Muslim families and
distribute inheritance left by deceased Muslims.
“Whoever claims that there is no Shari’ah in the
Constitution or that Shari’ah panels do not exist in Yorubaland is either
exhibiting certificated ignorance or living in nafdac-registered self-delusion.
Even some state customary, magistrate and high courts in the region consult
these Shari’ah panels when they come across highly technical Islamic matters.
“Meanwhile
the ongoing opposition to the operation of Shari’ah panels in the area provides
strong evidence that there is no religious tolerance in the South-West. It also
points to the fact that Muslims in the region are facing religious persecution,
social strangulation and forceful assimilation into other faiths.
“With all the brouhaha being raised by the
irredentist Yoruba nation groups on the issue of Shari’ah in the South-West, it
is very clear to all and sundry that there is no religious tolerance in the
zone. The myth of peaceful coexistence in Yorubaland has now been shattered by
the threats and hullabaloo emanating from Yoruba nation groups in the region.
“The Shari’ah imbroglio in the South-West further
calls to question the good intention of the so-called champions of democracy and
human rights groups in the region particularly the conspiracy of silence over
the Shari’ah saga.
“We are tempted to ask, ‘Why are the human rights
groups silent? Where are the human rights lawyers? Why are they always on
sabbatical each time Muslims are denied their Allah-given fundamental human
rights?
“Why do they suddenly become vocal whenever issues
affect Christians? Is human rights for Christians alone? Are Muslims not homo
sapiens compos mentis? Is Yorubaland back in George Orwell’s Animal Farm
where all animals are equal but some are more equal than others? Is the region’s
mantra now ‘All Yorubas are equal except the Muslims’?
“This is exactly what MURIC is resisting and we
will not stop until all forms oppression, repression and downpression of
Muslims stop. If it is true that Nigeria is practising democracy, then that
democracy must be all-embracing. There must be inclusivity and tolerance of all
groups.
“By extension,
if it is true that Christian common law is used in the magistrate court, the high
court and the Supreme Court, and it is; if it is true that tradition and
culture is the norm in the customary courts, and it is; the large Yoruba Muslim
population deserves a court suitable for its own faith. Anything to the contrary
is fake democracy, lack of accommodation, outright intolerance and
desertification of inclusiveness.
“For instance, the civil Shari’ah being practiced
in the Shari’ah panels or any civil shariah court in future should have been
tolerated if indeed true democracy is being practiced in the South-West. But
what we find in the South-West is economic marginalization, political
ostracization and religious discrimination against Yoruba Muslims.
“MURIC finds it curious that Yoruba nation groups
are still demanding separation from Nigeria despite the fact that the current
president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a bona fide Yoruba man, born,
buttered and marmaladed in the city of Lagos. The same groups have been
opposing the Shari’ah panel and spreading false information about Shari’ah. We wonder what exactly they want.
“For the umpteenth time and for
the purpose of clarification, Yoruba Muslims are not demanding full
implementation of Shari’ah. They are only asking for civil Shari’ah for the
settlement of their family disputes. It is only for Muslims. No Christian can
ever be taken to a Shari’ah court or even a Shari’ah panel.
“A lot of disinformation has transpired. Fanatical
Christians and Yoruba nation activists have engaged in demarketing Shari’ah.
They told Nigerians that we want to establish full criminal aspect of Shari’ah
in the South-West. They told them that the arms of thieves would be cut off.
They said Christians would be dragged to the Shari’ah courts.
“All these
are lies from the pit of Jahannam. They are merely giving a dog a bad name in
order to hang it. Most of the lies are targeted at the elimination of Islam in
Yorubaland. What we are asking for is civil Shariah only. It does not involve
cutting of hands and Christians are not involved.
“In fact no single Christian has
been taken to any Shari’ah panel since the panels have been sitting since 2002
at Oja Oba Central Mosque, Ibadan, Oyo State; since 2003 at Abesan Estate
Central Mosque, Lagos; since 2018 at the Egba Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta,
Ogun State; since 2005 at the Osun State Muslim Community Secretariat, Ring
Road, Oshogbo, Osun State, etc.
“Our
Shari’ah panels are mere arbitration committees. They have no force of law.
They are not courts. Stop misleading the Yoruba people and stop inciting them
against their Muslim neighbours. This admonition is for those who are ready to
listen and those who love the truth.
“We are aware that those who oppose this civil
Shari’ah in the South-West have been telling the security agencies that Muslims
in the region plan to force Shariah on the Yoruba people. It is a lie. There is
no such thing. The security agencies cannot be hoodwinked.
“The security agencies know the oppressors and they
know those who are being persecuted for their faith in the South-West. There is
no iota of doubt that Muslims in the region are facing religious persecution, social
strangulation and forceful assimilation into other faiths. The lies must stop. Set
Yoruba Muslims free”
#StopShari’ahMisinformation
#StopTheLiesAboutShari’ah
#SetYorubaMuslimsFree
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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