The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned a proposed bill by five United States lawmakers seeking to impose sanctions on prominent Nigerian Muslim figures and organisations, describing the move as lopsided, unjust and selective.
The bill reportedly recommended measures such as visa bans and asset freezes against a former Governor of Kano State and National Leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused US lawmakers of targeting Muslims while allegedly ignoring violations against Muslims in other parts of the country.
“We take the decision of the US Congress to sanction Muslims alone with a pinch of salt,” Akintola said. “It amounts to scapegoating, preconceived judgement and crusade-brandishing.”
He argued that if sanctions are to be credible and fair, they must address alleged abuses across religious and regional divides in Nigeria. According to him, there are documented cases of discrimination and violence against Muslims in parts of Southern Nigeria, as well as attacks on Muslim residents and travellers in the North-Central region.
“For an objective sanction exercise, the US must beam its searchlight on the whole country,” he stated, insisting that focusing solely on Muslim leaders and organisations reflects bias.
Akintola also criticised what he described as a pattern of engagement by US officials that, in his view, gives greater attention to Christian activists and clergy from Nigeria without adequately consulting Muslim groups.
While acknowledging that Nigeria faces challenges related to religious freedom and extremism, the MURIC leader maintained that both Muslim and Christian extremists exist and that any international action should reflect that reality.
Despite its strong criticism, MURIC stressed that Nigerian Muslims harbour no hostility toward the United States, noting longstanding social and economic ties between citizens of both countries. The group, however, urged US authorities to undertake what it described as thorough and impartial investigations before imposing sanctions.
Akintola warned that actions perceived as biased could deepen tensions and potentially embolden extremist elements. He called for dialogue and fairness, reiterating the organisation’s motto: “Dialogue, Not Violence.”
