Nigeria and Shari'a: Religion and Politics in a West African Nation
The Conflict
The Nigerian state, or province, of Zamfara declared in 1999 that it was repudiating Nigeria's constitution and adopting Islamic law, shari'a. Observers feared that Nigeria would dissolve into civil war. Violence broke out and many people fled their homes.
Political
- The Muslim population of Zamfara was enthusiastic about adopting shari'a to deal with crime that the state seemed unable to stop.
- The central government rejected Zamfara's right to establish a separate legal system and civil rights groups challenged the constitutionality of the system.
Religious
- Nigeria is comprised of roughly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims.
- Christians object to being forced to abide by Islamic law.
Economic
• In the 1980s the price of oil plummeted, causing economic dislocation, violence, and land disputes.
Beginning in the fall of 1999 American newspapers such as the New York Times and wire services such as the Associated Press and Reuters began to publish stories regarding the announcement by Nigeria's northern Zamfara State that it would implement shari'a. Shari'a is the Islamic code of law that for centuries has provided a complete guide to life for Muslims. Because Nigeria's population is roughly divided between Muslims and Christians, many sources feared that the move to establish shari'a would further divide the country or lead to violence and possibly civil war.
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