MURIC Warns US, Critics: “Shari’ah Is a Red Line Nigerian Muslims Will Defend”

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that the Shari’ah legal system remains a non-negotiable part of Muslim identity and governance in Nigeria, cautioning against any attempt—local or international—to undermine it.

MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, issued the warning while reacting to recent calls urging the United States to pressure President Bola Tinubu into banning Shari’ah courts and Hisbah operations in northern states.

Akintola slammed the suggestion, particularly one made by Dr. Ebenezer Obadare, describing it as “mischievous, reactionary, and outlandish.” He insisted that such appeals cross a “red line” and raise serious concerns about Washington’s intentions in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism partnership.

According to him, Shari’ah is inseparable from Islam and deeply rooted in the nation’s constitutional framework.

“Shari’ah is the Muslims’ way of life. It cannot be separated from Islam,” he said. “We fought hard to establish it, and its foundation is deeply entrenched in legality, constitutionality, and democratic values.”

He warned that any attempt to abolish Shari’ah would be interpreted as a direct attack on the faith itself.

“The moment anyone attempts to touch our Shari’ah, we begin to see him seeking to eliminate Islam in its totality. Our advice is this: don’t go there. It is the red line,” he cautioned.

Akintola further argued that inviting US interference amounts to threatening Nigeria’s sovereignty and insulting the country’s constitutional order.

“This call raises more questions than answers and casts doubt on the intention of the United States in its interest in Nigeria’s war on terror,” he said. “It constitutes an affront to the Nigerian constitution. It is a no-go area for either the US or the Nigerian government.”

He stressed that Muslims will continue to support President Tinubu’s counter-terrorism efforts as long as the administration respects their religious rights.

“But Nigerian Muslims are not fools,” he added. “The story will definitely change if any government, local or foreign, makes any attempt to outlaw our hard-earned Shari’ah.”