Author: Gilbert Da Costa,
Publication: www.boston.com
Date: June 21, 2000
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) Muslims
in Nigeria's north cheered the formal declaration of Islamic law Wednesday,
despite an upsurge in religious violence that has already killed thousands
of people and forced many of the region's minority Christians to flee.
The proclamation made
by Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso was met with deafening chants of
''Allah Akbar,'' or ''God is great,'' from the crowd gathered in the state
capital's main prayer grounds to celebrate the announcement, according
to residents and local journalists contacted by telephone.
''It is the fulfillment
of our dreams,'' said Hassan Dambaba, a school teacher in Kano city. ''Now
we can practice our religion as we should.''
Armed soldiers and anti-riot
police patrolled Kano city Wednesday and guarded key intersections.
Kano, the fourth and
largest Nigerian state to adopt Islamic law, or sharia, has a history of
ethnic and religious clashes. Despite government assurances, hundreds of
Christians have been fleeing the predominantly Muslim state since last
week fearing more violence.
Islamic courts created
under the new legal system have the power to try criminal cases involving
Muslims and mete out punishments. Sharia supporters have said the laws
would only apply to Muslims, but the change has angered and frightened
many Christians.
The new courts have already
handed down sentences such as floggings, and a convicted cow thief had
his hand amputated.
Plans to implement Islamic
law in the northern state of Kaduna triggered bitter religious bloodletting
in February and March that killed up to 2,000 people.
Nigeria, Africa's most
populous nation, is sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines. Thousands
have been killed since President Olusegun Obasanjo took office last year,
ending 15 years of military rule.
Southern Nigeria is predominantly
Christian, and northern Nigeria is overwhelmingly Muslim. Northerners dominate
Nigeria's military, and wielded immense power during army rule.
Wednesday was declared
a public holiday in Kano. But sharia does not come into full effect until
Nov. 26, the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to give the
government time to enact the necessary laws and to train judges in the
Islamic code.
Others states also plan
to follow suit. The northern state of Jigawa announced Wednesday that it
would introduce sharia in August.