BEVERLY HILLS, May 28, (THEWILL) – The former President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Bello Shagari, on Friday faulted the imposition of Sharia law in some parts of Northern Nigeria, saying it is unIslamic to Impose Islam on others.
Bello, who is also a grandson of late former President Shehu Shagari, also said that Nigeria would never become an Islamic State.
Bello, who made this known via his verified Twitter handle on Friday, said, “First of all, I have never advocated for sharia in Nigeria. It is glaringly clear that Nigeria is not an Islamic State and will never be.
“However, I have always defended sharia itself due to perceived Islamaphobia, which usually condemns Sharia instead of its improper usage.”
“No members of any religion should impose their religion upon others, and even Allah has commanded that ‘there is no compulsion in religion’. Therefore, imposing Islam upon others is even unislamic.
“Sharia is not the only thing done wrongly in Nigeria but every other law. Therefore, when criticizing sharia, we should be mindful not to be condemning it in general, as sharia in itself, is a religious instruction to Muslims, thereby making it offensive and Islamaphobic”, the tweet further stated.
Sharia is practised in most Northern Nigerian states. The presence of Islamic police known as Hisbah is also ubiquitous in Northern Nigeria.
Hisbah is known to enforce sharia precepts including alcohol ban, ban on prostitution, indecent dressing, amongst others.
Hisbah has always been flayed by some Nigerians for trampling on the Fundamental Human Rights of individuals.
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