MURIC condemns U.S lawmakers’ calls for abolition of Shari’ah in Nigeria

MURIC condemns U.S lawmakers’ calls for abolition of Shari’ah in Nigeria
…Says move is undemocratic, threatens world peace

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly condemned recent comments and moves by some United States legislators calling for the abolition of Shari’ah law in Nigeria and threatening sanctions against 12 northern governors.

In a statement issued on Thursday, November 6, 2025, and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the faith-based human rights organization described the remarks coming from the U.S. as “unguarded, undemocratic, and demagogic.”

The group was reacting to reports that U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, had pushed for a bill seeking to end Shari’ah and blasphemy laws in Nigeria, while also proposing sanctions against northern governors, judges, and traditional rulers involved in implementing Islamic legal provisions.

MURIC, however, rejected what it described as an attempt by American legislators to impose U.S. values on Muslims around the world, including those in Nigeria.

“We reject attempts by U.S. legislators to impose the American value system on Nigerian Muslims. The negative comments about the Islamic legal system coming from the U.S. are, at best, unguarded, undemocratic, and demagogic,” the statement read in part.

Professor Akintola argued that the introduction of Shari’ah law in northern Nigeria followed due process and reflected the will of the people in those states.

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 “The states practicing Shari’ah in Nigeria followed due process before introducing it. Shari’ah is being used in those states because Islam is the religion of the overwhelming majority, and there has never been any complaint from them,” he said.

According to MURIC, democracy is built on majority rule, citizen participation, and the rule of law—principles that were upheld when Shari’ah was adopted through the legislative process in the respective northern states.

The organization warned that any attempt by foreign lawmakers to force the abrogation of Shari’ah laws in Nigeria amounts to interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation and a violation of international law.

“Any attempt by a foreign legislature to abrogate Shari’ah through extra-judicial and alien interpretation will be regarded as undue interference in the affairs of a sovereign country and a breach of international law. This will defeat the ideals of democracy and threaten world peace,” Akintola stated.

MURIC also denounced threats against the 12 northern governors, describing them as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the dignity of northern culture.

“These governors were elected in free, fair, and credible elections attested to by international observers. U.S. threats directed at them constitute an unacceptable assault on the Nigerian electoral process and a desecration of the dignity of Northern Nigeria,” the statement added.

The organization urged U.S. lawmakers to allow Nigeria’s democracy to thrive and respect the religious and cultural choices of its citizens.

“Leave Northern lawmakers alone. Shari’ah is the free choice of Nigerian Muslims. We strongly condemn U.S. attempts to harass, coerce, and intimidate Northern state actors over Shari’ah,” MURIC said.

#LeaveShariahAlone

#USStopHarassingNorthernGovernors

#LetNigeriaBreathe

 

MURIC condemns U.S lawmakers’ calls for abolition of Shari’ah in Nigeria