By Sabiu Abdullahi
Popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has defended the practice of Shariah law in Nigeria.
He said it is the right of Muslims to be governed by their religious principles, similar to how the United States safeguards Christian interests.
Gumi made the remarks in response to reports that some members of the U.S. Congress submitted a request to President Donald Trump, urging the abolition of Shariah and blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
In a post shared on his verified social media page, the cleric maintained that Muslims have the freedom to follow their religious injunctions. “Shariah Law is the Muslims’ prerogative just as the US found it only necessary to protect the Christians,” he said.
He also stated that Muslims face threats which he described as hidden and externally driven. “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.
In a separate post, he criticised what he called inconsistency in global discussions on religion and governance. “It’s ok for US evangelical Christians administration for Israel to live by biblical stories yet Haram for Muslims to live by the Quranic injunctions,” he wrote.
Shariah law operates alongside Nigeria’s conventional legal system in several northern states, especially in matters related to personal and family issues among Muslims.
