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Christians in the largely Muslim state of Katsina in northern Nigeria have protested at being ignored in a decision by the state House of Assembly to implement Islamic Sharia Law, ‘The Guardian’ newspaper of Lagos reported on Friday.
The chairman of the Association of Hausa/Fulani and Beriberi Christians, Mallam Saleh Bawa, lodged his complaint on Tuesday with the acting speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Rabiu Abdulkadir Kurfi.
Although Christians in the state were not opposed to the adoption of Sharia, Bawa said, they were unhappy that their interests were not taken into consideration when the decision was made.
Bawa also urged the state government to change the name of the Islamic Affairs Department to the Religious Commission. Such a body, he said, should look after the interests of all religious groups, which would infuse state residents with a sense of belonging.
Kurfi had told ‘The Guardian’ that Katsina would implement Sharia now that its executive and legislative arms had completed work on the Sharia bills.
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