Zamfir, the King of Zamfara.
Posted on 04/30/2004 12:50:37 PM PDT by Alouette
Governor Ahmed Sani of Zamfara State, has ordered the demolition of all churches in the state, as he launched the second phase of his Sharia project yesterday.
Speaking at the launch in Gusau, the state capital, Governor Sani disclosed that time was ripe for full implementation of the programme as enshrined in the Holy Quran.
He added that his government would soon embark on demolition of all places of worship of unbelievers in the state, in line with Islamic injunction to fight them wherever they are found.
The governor also disclosed that a law to compel employers of labor in the state to give their employees "prayer breaks" five times daily would soon be enacted by the state House of Assembly.
The governor's stance on the demolition of all non-Islamic worship centres, however, runs contrary to the provisions of the country's constitution, which states in Chapter 4, Section 38(1) that "every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
Commenting on Governor Sani's decision, a lawyer and Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Barrister Ademorin Kuye, described the move as unconstitutional.
"The governor has no constitutional power to demolish churches in his state. The constitution guarantees the right of worship of every Nigerian. Nigeria is a secular state and a serving governor should not be seen as promoting one religion over the other ," Barrister Kuye declared.
He warned the Zamfara governor not to embark on destruction of churches, as it would have grave repercussion in other parts of the country.
It would be recalled that Governor Sani introduced the Sharia Legal Code in the state in the year 2000, despite opposition from the federal government and religious groups.
The implementation of the system led to the amputation of the wrist of a cow thief, Malam Jangedi.
Governor Sani also made the retention of a long beard a condition for securing juicy contracts from the state government.
Zamfir, the King of Zamfara.
Genesis 16:12
He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
Francis Cardinal Arinze, considered a likely successor to Pope John Paul II, is from Nigeria. The country has more than 15 million catholics, spread over 49 dioceses. These folks won't let anyone torch their churches.
Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list
Yep. Rome could get testy enough to issue permits to restore order. Wouldn't be the first time.
I'm all for that. The question is whether all those "good Catholics" in our government will support this.
I think the good cardinal may have already taken the appeasement route:
CARDINAL SAYS VATICAN WILL OPT OUT OF NIGERIA SHARIA CONFLICT
source: http://www.cin.org/archives/cinjub/200009/0309.html
LAGOS, Nigeria, Sep. 27, 00 (CWNews.com) - A native
Nigerian cardinal who heads the Vatican council on
interreligious dialogue said the Vatican is unlikely to
become involved in the dispute over the adoption of Muslim
Sharia law in some Nigerian states, according to the Post
Express newspaper on Wednesday.
Cardinal Francis Arinze said Christian and Muslim leaders
should sit down together to resolve the issue that has
resulted in riots which have claimed hundreds of lives in
the past year. Several majority Muslim states in northern
Nigeria have taken steps to implement Sharia law which
provides offenses and punishments based on Islamic
teachings.
"There are enough Christians and Muslim leaders in Nigeria
to look into the matter," said Cardinal Arinze. "But for
your information, major Muslim countries do not have Sharia
(as a legal system in their country). Indonesia, Morocco,
Jordan, Egypt and Turkey, do not have Sharia and these
Muslims live their values without forcing it down the
throat of everybody in a legal system."
This is the way Mohammedans "celebrate diversity."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.