Women's rights NGOs condemn religious fundamentalism

Women in Nigeria have said they oppose attempts by some states to introduce laws purporting to be "Islamic" or "Christian". Baobab for Women's Human Rights and 13 other local rights groups who met in November decried the introduction of Shari'a in Zamfara State and threats to apply Christian laws in the south-eastern state of Cross River. "These moves to restrictive laws in the name of religion are completely unconstitutional and their provisions violate our rights," the coalition of women said. In a statement on 2 November, they said the ban on women using the same public transport as men in Zamfara was a "denial of women's rights to movement and, as a consequence, women's rights to freedom of association". Their concern was supported by women from Muslim countries who met in Nigeria and discussed the "Islamisation of Zamfara State". They said the restrictions in Zamfara would hurt poor women more because they could ill-afford private transport. The group also said violating women's rights by introducing the Shari'a would not end prostitution, gambling and other social vices. The NGOs said they were shocked that those responsible for ensuring that constitutional rights were guarded had not done anything to protect these rights. "We call on the president, state governors, and federal and state ministers or commissioners of justice and attorneys general to speak out and take action against these unconstitutional acts," Ayesha Imam, BAOBAB's executive director, said.