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Armed mobile police were drafted to enforce a ban on a seminar on Islamic law that was to have been held on Thursday in the northern city of Zaria, AFP reported.
It quoted Deputy Police Commissioner Edgar Nanakumo as saying: “Given the unpleasant disturbance we had some months back, any issue regarding Sharia should be treated with extra care.”
At least 2,000 people were killed in February 2000 when Christians and Muslims clashed over a plan to introduce Sharia laws in the state.
So far, 10 northern states have introduced Sharia since January 2000.
The head of the Civil Rights Congress, which organised the seminar, described the ban as “an act of mischief and of sabotage”. AFP quoted the official, Shehu Sanni, as saying that disallowing dialogue and discussion on any issue gives room for people to use unconstitutional means to express their views.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions