The Gombe State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned against increasing foreign commentaries and subtle pressures regarding the operation of Shari’ah and other faith-based legal structures within Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Dr. Usman Bakura, Chairman of MURIC Gombe, the organisation emphasized that Nigeria is a sovereign nation governed by the 1999 Constitution, which guaranteed freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and provides for the establishment of Shari’ah Courts of Appeal where required.
“MURIC wishes to clarify that Shari’ah, as practiced in Nigeria, applies primarily to Muslims who voluntarily submit to its jurisdiction in personal and civil matters. It does not infringe on the rights of non-Muslims, operates within the constitutional framework, and is subject to judicial review like any other court system,” the statement read.
The organisation warned that mischaracterizing Shari’ah as incompatible with democracy or human rights is either a result of misinformation or deliberate distortion. MURIC further urged the Federal Government to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty, called on international partners to respect the nation’s constitutional diversity, and encouraged media, scholars, and civil society to promote an accurate understanding of Shari’ah.
MURIC also stressed that security agencies must fight terrorism and criminality strictly through lawful, intelligence-based operations without profiling or religious bias, and cautioned against linking Shari’ah with insecurity.
“The strength of Nigeria lies in its diversity. Mutual respect among religious communities remains the foundation of national unity. External pressure or inflammatory rhetoric can only create unnecessary tension,” the statement added.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy, constitutionalism, interfaith dialogue, and the protection of human rights, under its guiding principle: Dialogue, Not Violence.
