Former Communications Minister, Barr. Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, has said Christians and other non-Muslims in Oyo State have nothing to fear from his agitation for the establishment of Sharia Courts in the state.
Shittu stated this in an interview with PrimeStar News Online, explaining that the Sharia Court he is advocating would deal with Islamic civil and personal-law matters rather than impose Islamic law on non-Muslims.
According to him, the agitation is aimed at providing Muslims who choose to have their personal matters governed by Islamic law with access to the appropriate judicial system.
He argued that non-Muslims would not be compelled to submit to the jurisdiction of a Sharia Court.
Shittu said Muslims should be allowed to exercise what he described as their constitutional right to access a Sharia judicial system, while other citizens should retain their own legal rights.
He therefore dismissed fears that establishing such courts in Oyo State would threaten Christians or other religious groups.
The former minister maintained that the proposed court should be viewed within the context of Nigeria’s constitutional provisions and the country’s religious diversity.
