Is this an Islamophobic organisation?

CAN had earlier argued that the Federal government’s Sukuk bond is just another way to Islamise the country.

A statement by the Deputy Secretary General of the NSCIA, Salisu Shehu, has many reasons for why this is untrue, adding that CAN is simply Islamaphobic.

Daily Post reports that the statement said: “CAN cannot claim ignorance of the fact that even the World Bank has been involved in issuing SUKUK and the floating of SUKUK Bonds.

“Interestingly also, several non-Muslim countries across Africa, Europe and Asia have also instituted Islamic Financial System generally and SUKUK in particular. Worthy of mention here are Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Russia, China, Singapore and a number of firms in the United States.”

“Less than two years ago, Britain hosted a World Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance and David Cameron, the then British prime minister, openly declared that their intention was to make UK the hub of Islamic Finance in the World.

“It would certainly be embarrassing for CAN to be told that the first and foremost state in Nigeria to submit an application for a loan to the Islamic Development Bank is a Christian-dominated state in the South-East.”

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The NSCIA went on to call CAN an Islamophobic organisation.

The group said, “We have not been talking of Christianisation because Sunday has been forced on us as a work-free day, or the Cross as our hospital sign and symbol, our membership of the International Red Cross, and many other things including almost all the titles of the heads of academic institutions (Chancellor, Provost, Dean, Rector, etc.).”

“Despite this remarkable tolerance from Muslims over the years, CAN appears to be increasingly becoming Islamophobic and paranoid about its hate and intolerance of Islam, casting aspersions, unnecessarily overheating the polity and unjustifiably creating fear and distrust in the minds of peace-loving citizens of our great country.”

“We are poised to advise CAN to, in the spirit of Biblical injunctions, uphold the truth for its sake and tread the path of honour and refrain from statements capable of causing disaffection and promoting disharmony that may lead to conflict in the country.”

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Meanwhile, the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has stepped in to defend CAN’s statements.

According to a statement by its Chairman, Chief Solomon Asemota, the Sukuk bond is contrary to Sections 1 and 10 of the 1999 Constitution.

The group argues that “the Nigerian Constitution forbids such infraction,” even if it is adopted by other nations.

“Sharia and democracy can never co-exist in harmony. Proponents of Sharia-Compliant Finance (SCF) often convey the impression that SCF is an “ethical” financial system whose roots and practice are to be found in the Quran, hadiths and traditions of early Islam.

“In fact, it was invented out of whole cloth in the mid-20th century by Muslim Brotherhood figures like Sayyid Qutb and Sayyid AbulA’la Al-Mawdudi.

“Its purpose was to provide yet another method to penetrate and undermine non-Sharia societies by stealthily insinuating Sharia into their free markets,” the Chairman explained.

Concerning the NSCIA’s allegation that CAN is Islamophobic, the group referred to the inability of the Islam leaders to stop Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen from attacking Christians, churches, and so on.

Based on this, the group said, “it would be unfair and unjust for the same leaders of Islam to turn around and accuse Christians of Islamophobia.

“It is akin to slapping a man and yet complain that the man screamed. Do leaders of Islam expect Christians to keep mute while violent Jihad (Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen) and stealth Jihad is also known as stealth jihad with money (Sukkuk) are all used to negate Section 38 (1) of the constitution and destroy the secularity of the Nigerian state?”

NSCIA is yet to respond to NCEF‘s statement.