Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended the application of Sharia law in Nigeria, describing it as a religious prerogative for Muslims and a matter of self-determination.
According to Naija News, the Kaduna-based cleric made the remarks while reacting to reports that some members of the United States Congress had submitted a request to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to push for the abolition of Sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
Sharia Law as Religious Freedom
In a series of posts shared on his verified social media page, Gumi maintained that Muslims have the right to be governed by their religious injunctions without external interference.
He argued that Sharia law represents an expression of religious freedom, drawing comparisons with the United States, which he said protects Christian interests in governance and foreign policy.
“Shariah Law is the Muslims’ prerogative just as the US found it only necessary to protect the Christians,” he wrote.
His remarks come amid renewed international attention on religious legal systems in Nigeria, particularly in northern states where Sharia operates alongside the conventional legal framework.
Comments on Security and Religious Tensions
The cleric also alleged that Muslims in Nigeria have been victims of what he described as “occult terror” introduced into the country by unnamed forces.
“At the same time, Muslims are more victims of this occult terror imported into the country by hidden forces they very well know,” Gumi stated.
Although he did not provide further details, the statement aligns with his previously expressed views on security and religious tensions in the country.
Concerns Over Global Religious Double Standards
In another post, Gumi questioned what he described as a double standard in global conversations on religion and governance, referencing Western political support for Israel.
“It’s okay for US evangelical Christian administrations to support Israel based on biblical narratives, yet it is considered wrong for Muslims to live by Quranic injunctions,” he wrote.
Sharia Law in Nigeria’s Legal Structure
Sharia law operates in several northern states of Nigeria, primarily in matters relating to personal status, family law, and other civil issues concerning Muslims. The system exists alongside Nigeria’s conventional legal structure and applies only to adherents of Islam in those states.
