The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has attributed the opposition to the establishment of a Shari’ah panel in Ekiti State to Islamophobia, misinformation, and collective amnesia. The group stated that these factors have fueled unnecessary tension and resistance against the initiative.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 29th January 2025, MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, argued that hostility towards Islamic principles and a historical pattern of misrepresenting Islamic policies were responsible for the backlash.
“In view of the thick cloud of tension over the Shari’ah controversy in Ekiti, MURIC’s ad hoc Think-Tank has identified Islamophobia, collective amnesia, ignorance, and religious competition as the major causes of the opposition,” Akintola said.
He emphasized that a deep-rooted bias against Islam had led many non-Muslims to reject Shari’ah without understanding its purpose, noted that similar opposition was recorded when Islamic banking and the Sukuk bond were introduced in Nigeria.
Citing past events, Akintola recalled how Christian groups strongly resisted Islamic banking in 2011 and the introduction of the Sukuk bond but later benefited from them. He questioned why the same opposition was being mounted against Shari’ah courts meant solely for Muslims.
“The Shari’ah panel is for Muslims alone. Christians have the magistrate, high, and Supreme Courts. Traditionalists have customary courts. But Muslims in Ekiti have no judicial system to handle Islamic civil cases. Denying them this right contradicts democratic principles of fairness and religious freedom,” he added.
MURIC urged Ekiti residents to seek knowledge about the Shari’ah panel and not be swayed by misinformation, stressing that the initiative does not affect non-Muslims in any way.
The controversy surrounding the Shari’ah panel has sparked debates in the state, with some Christian groups and civil society organizations expressing concerns over its implications. However, Muslim stakeholders insisted that it is a constitutional right that should not be politicized.
MURIC called for mutual understanding and tolerance, reiterating that religious coexistence should be based on justice and respect for all faiths.
