The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned against attempts to infringe upon the religious rights of Yoruba Muslim traditional rulers, emphasizing their constitutional freedom to live, practice, and be buried according to Islamic tenets.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, urged members of the public particularly in the South-West to respect the faith choices of Muslim monarchs and desist from acts of coercion or intimidation.
According to him, “Muslim traditional rulers have recently faced condemnation for upholding Islamic practices in their personal lives, including worship and burial rites. Their detractors argue that they must conform to traditional customs, which is both unreasonable and unconstitutional.”
Professor Akintola stressed that being a traditional ruler does not annul one’s personal faith, noting that most Muslim kings ascend the throne as practicing Muslims.
“A Muslim king is crowned as a Muslim because, ordinarily, he was a Muslim before becoming king. Nothing changes in his faith or identity. He remains a leader to all Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists alike and is expected to be fair and inclusive,” he said.
He, however, warned that compelling any Muslim monarch to live or be buried as a traditional worshipper constitutes religious coercion and a violation of Section 38 (i) & (ii) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
“To insist that a Muslim king must live as a traditionalist or be buried as one is crossing the red line. Such coercion is unacceptable and unconstitutional. Yorubaland is an integral part of Nigeria, and the supremacy of the Constitution must be upheld,” Akintola maintained.
The MURIC Director decried reported cases of forced conversions at shrines and called for an end to practices that deny individuals the right to religious choice, particularly after death.
He concluded by reaffirming MURIC’s commitment to defending the rights of Muslim traditional rulers to practice their faith without intimidation or discrimination.
