Nigeria bill increasing Sharia Court jurisdiction passes second reading, sponsor claims it's to protect Christians

A bill was passed in Nigeria that many have viewed to be an effort to expand the Islamic Sharia law across the secular country. However, the sponsor of the bill said that that is not its purpose; rather, it aims to protect Christians from being attacked.

"We're not trying to expand the Sharia as other people perceive it that we're trying to take Sharia to other states that have not adopted Shari'a like Enugu or Abuja," said lawmaker Abdullahi Salame, as quoted by Premium Times. "No, we're not saying that we should expand Sharia. We're talking about the jurisdiction of the existing Sharia court."

Salame explained that the proposed law would apply only to those areas that already have the Sharia legal system. It would expand the jurisdiction of their Sharia Court of Appeals from trying civil cases to also be able to try criminal cases.

"I just want them to add only two words 'and criminal' to Sections 262 and 272 so that after the 'civil' there will be followed with 'and criminal' matters," he said.

With the additions, those who target Christians and other non-Muslims would be deterred from continuing their unjust actions. Salame said that this change, should it become law, conforms to the APC party's agenda of improving security as it would help in the "peaceful co-existence between Muslim and non-Muslims in the states that practice Sharia."

"With the passage of this bill, no Muslim will ever attempt even to harm, much less, kill non-Muslims, because you know Sharia can attend to criminal cases and you will be dealt with," he explained. "And, in Islam, when you kill a non-Muslim, you will be killed. These Boko Haram and other groups that hide behind any little crisis to attack Christians and other non-Muslims would be easily punished."

According to the report, Christian groups have expressed their dismay at non-Muslim lawmakers who have allowed the bill to pass a second reading without debate.

"We are still at a very early stage in the process," said Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, according to This Day, "and Nigerians should not worry about bills of these nature as the House has shown over the years to be the protector of Nigerians' national unity and interest."

The bill's long title reads: "A bill for an Act to alter Sections 262 and 277 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to increase the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory and Sharia Court of Appeal of a State by including Criminal Matters and Hudud and Qisas and for other related Matters."