Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria Rejects Foreign Pressure Over Islamic Law

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has firmly dismissed reported calls by some members of the United States Congress urging Muslims in Nigeria to abandon the practice of Sharia law.

In a strongly worded statement, the council maintained that no external authority has the right to dictate religious practices to Nigerian Muslims. It described such calls as unwarranted interference in the country’s internal affairs and an affront to religious freedom.

The SCSN emphasized that Sharia, as implemented in several northern states, operates within the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution and primarily applies to Muslims who voluntarily submit to its jurisdiction in personal and civil matters. According to the council, Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional framework must be respected in all discussions about its legal and religious systems.

The reaction follows concerns reportedly raised by U.S. lawmakers about issues relating to religious freedom and human rights in regions where Sharia law is practiced. However, the Sharia Council insisted that matters concerning Islamic law in Nigeria should be resolved through domestic dialogue and legal processes, not foreign political pressure.