The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to establish Sharia courts in all South West states and declare Fridays as public holidays.
MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, presented the demands during the South West Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional review.
MURIC argued that the absence of Sharia courts in the South West, despite significant Muslim populations, under mines their legal and religious rights. The group demanded constitutional provisions mandating state governors to establish Sharia Courts of Appeal, which would handle Muslim-specific matters without affecting non-Muslims.
Additionally, MURIC called for Friday to be declared a public holiday, citing historical significance and the need for religious balance.
Currently, Nigeria recognized Saturday and Sunday as weekends, favoring Christian worship practices. MURIC proposed that Friday be included as a recognized weekend day for Muslims to promote inclusivity and fairness.
The group also demanded that the Islamic New Year be declared a public holiday, pointing out that out of eight nationally recognized holidays, five catered to Christian events while only three acknowledge Muslim observances. This, they argued, is a clear imbalance that needed to be addressed to ensure fairness and equity for all citizens.
Furthermore, MURIC criticized the current lack of recognition for Islamic marriages in official circles, stating that Muslim couples face significant challenges when presenting their Nikkah certificates for official purposes. They urged the Senate to amend the Nigerian Marriage Act to ensure that Islamic marriages are recognized and accorded the same status as Christian marriages.
MURIC also highlighted the issue of profiling and intimidation faced by Muslims during documentation processes, such as passport applications and elections. They called for an end to these practices and proposed that the Constitution be amended to accommodate the religious needs of Muslims.
Moreover, MURIC raised concerns about uniforms designed without consideration for Islamic dress codes, citing examples of Western countries that have accommodated Muslim needs. They demanded that official uniforms in Nigeria be designed to be friendly to all religions.
The Senate assured that all submissions will be thoroughly reviewed and considered in the constitutional amendment process.
