Thursday, March 21, 2002

A story released today by the BBC News reports that the federal government of Nigeria has declared that the strict implementation of Sharia law is illegal under the country's constitution.

"A Muslim should not be subjected to a punishment more severe than would be imposed on other Nigerians for the same offense," Justice Minister Godwin Agabi has written in a letter to northern states.

The letter, which signals an important shift in government policy, makes no reference to any specific case.

But it comes as Nigeria is gripped by the trial of a woman convicted of adultery and sentenced to death by stoning by an Islamic court. She is due to hear the outcome of her appeal next week.

The case has provoked widespread international concern and calls for clemency.

Mr Agabi urged state authorities "to secure modification of all criminal laws of your state so that the courts will not be obliged to impose punishments which derogate from the rights of Muslims."

Criminal punishments such as stoning, amputation and flogging have been introduced in many of Nigeria's majority Muslim northern states over the past two years.

Pregnancy outside marriage in the Sharia states of northern Nigeria, even for a divorcee, can be considered as adultery and punishable by death.

President Obasanjo has himself made it clear he would prefer the sentence not to be carried out.