The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria just messed up, misfired, and shot itself in the foot.
SCSN purports to be a religious body that speaks for all Muslims. But by wading into the detention of one politician Nasir El-Rufai, it has stepped out of religion and into criminal territory. And that is not why it exists. Religious bodies should stay out of the dock and out of defense briefs. That job belongs to lawyers and the judiciary. By doing this SCSN has blurred the line between faith and politics and it now risks being seen as partisan.
If the Council is about the rule of law, why has it stayed silent while thousands of ordinary Nigerians sit in jail without bail, without trial, without anyone noticing? Defending only one big name tells us Nigeria runs two-tier justice: one for the elite, and a dead end for the rest of us, raw materials. That makes a mockery of fairness and guts the Council’s credibility
Their choice of words is dangerous. Calling it “politically motivated persecution” is a verdict before trial. It kills trust in institutions and drums up ethnic and religious fire around one man. Religious bodies should douse temper not pour petrol on it.
SCSN says it speaks for Muslims nationwide. Picking a side for one controversial politician risks losing the very people it represents, those who believe no one is above the law. When religious bodies defend alleged criminals instead of principles, they lose public trust.
If there was a miscarriage of justice, let the courts handle it. If the problem is due process, then SCSN should speak for all detainees not pick one. Jumping into one criminal case does not make the Council sound principled. It makes it look political, and that will cost it reputation.
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