The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has decried what it called the misinformation and allegations credited to non-Muslims regarding the establishment of an independent Shariah arbitration panel in some parts of the region.
MUSWEN, the umbrella body for Muslims in the South West, said it was regrettable that “some high personalities in the region, including traditional rulers and senior state government law officials, were at the forefront of misleading the public” on the issue of the Shariah arbitration panel.
In a statement by its president, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, the body said, “We expect that with the intervention of the number one Muslim body in the country, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), in the matter, it ought to have been laid to rest.
“Unfortunately, rather than heed the caution of the NSCIA, some people went to abuse the head of the Muslims in the country, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto/President-General of the NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
“These actions of abusing people in leadership positions on the basis of erroneous perception are distasteful and uncivilised.
“We expect those in high authority who are against the establishment of the Shariah panel to seek proper understanding of the matter to avoid lending their voices ignorantly.
“For the umpteenth time, the Shariah panel is a committee of Islamic scholars set up by Muslims to settle marriage and inheritance disputes. The panels also use mosques as venues. They are not courts. They are voluntary platforms designed solely for the resolution of civil disputes among consenting Muslims.
“As said, it was to fill the inexplicable vacuum created by the failure of the political elite in the Southwest to establish Shariah courts, as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution, despite the huge population of Muslims in the region.”
It added: “The public should know and understand that the essence of the Shariah arbitration panel is to provide a peaceful platform for conflict resolution, fostering unity, understanding, and adherence to Islamic ethics. The panellists aim to interpret Allah’s injunctions and provide guidance based on Shariah principles.
“It has nothing to do with unwilling Muslims and non-Muslims whatsoever.
“We call on the governors in the region, traditional rulers, community leaders, and all other groups to always seek proper understanding of anything that has to do with Islam and consult the leadership of MUSWEN before taking action.
“As said by the NSCIA, MUSWEN strongly supports the establishment of an independent Shariah arbitration panel in Ekiti State for the purpose so intended, especially where the Muslims in the state have been denied their constitutional right to a Shariah Court of Appeal as it obtains in all the states of South-Western Nigeria.
“In fact, such Shariah arbitration panels have existed in some South West states without creating any furore. These panels do not have any power of enforcement. They are only meant for Muslims who would prefer their family matters to be resolved according to the dictates of Islam.
“The panel in Oyo State has flourished for over 20 years. The panels also exist in Osun and Lagos states. We must stress that the existence of these panels has helped the government in reducing marriage breakdowns, which might have bloated the army of vulnerable children.
“MUSWEN does not find any legal justification, therefore, for the unnecessary alarm and unwarranted resistance to the establishment of the Shariah panel in Ekiti State.
“While others are enjoying their constitutional rights, Muslims, too, should not be denied their constitutional rights.”
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