Constitutional review: Muric demands a sharia court, a Friday free day in the Southwest

The Islamic advocacy group, the concern of Muslim rights (Muric), has demanded the establishment of the Sharia Court and Friday Declaration as free of work in the southwestern region of Nigeria in the ongoing constitutional amendment review.

Muric Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who submitted a request when he submitted a proposal for this group during the Southwest Zonal Public Hearing at the 1999 constitutional review held in Lagos on Friday and Saturday, said that establishing a sharia court and declared a free day on Friday in southwest states to increase the inclusiveness and protect Muslim rights in the region.

“There is no Islamic court in Southwest Nigeria, where Muslims are arguably formed the majority.

“This is contrary to the experience of Yoruba Pra-colonial before the emergence of the British government,” Akintola, who was represented by the group executive member, Dr. Jamiu Busari, said when he talked to the committee.

While calling for the establishment of a sharia court in all southwest states, including Edo because of their Muslim population, DG Muric also called for constitutional provisions that mandated the Governor of the State to establish a Sharia appeal court.

“These courts will only deal with Muslim problems, ensuring that non-Muslims are not affected,” he said.

Akintola also advocated Friday declarations as a public holiday to accommodate Muslim worship.

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“Thursday and Friday are traditional weekends for Muslims in pre-colonial periods. At present, Nigeria recognizes Saturday and Sunday as weekends, both support Christians.”

Continuing, Akintola said:

“The weekend structure is forced by colonial authority, with Saturday initially half a day.
Saturday was made a full day to benefit the seventh day Adventist under the regime of General Jacobu Gowon.

“We demand that Friday be included as a recognized weekend day for Muslims.

“At present, Nigeria has eight national public holidays, five of them support Christians and only three for Muslims. This holiday includes Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid al -Fitr, Eid al -Fitr, and Maulud.”

He also urged the constitutional amendment to make the Islamic New Year a public holiday, as well as the recognition of Islamic marriage certificates for official purposes

“Christian marriages conducted in the church or registrants are officially accepted nationally. But Nikkah’s marriage is not recognized, creating problems for Muslim couples in formal arrangements.

“The marriage of religious groups is officially accepted when others are ignored – this must change,” he emphasized