Religious body ask El-rufai to withdraw bill

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April 19, 2016 9:27 AM

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna, has called on the State Governor, Nasir El-rufai, to withdraw the religious censorship bill he sent to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

Chairman of the association,

CAN which said the bill vested summary jurisdiction to try violators to Sharia and Customary Courts added that the same bill failed to specifically state who is subjected to the courts.

“We can logically infer that Muslims are the ones subjected to Sharia Courts, but not so to Christians being subjected to Customary Courts. Therefore, it is indefensible for the Kaduna State Government to seek to subject Christians to jurisdiction of Customary Court," the religious body said.

While denying that most crises that have taken place in Kaduna were caused by Christian preachers, CAN added: “Most various religious violence crises that took part in the past years are usually orchestrated by bigoted fellows who believe that their religion has been defamed or blasphemed and they have a duty to fight, maim, kill and destroy, all in the name of defending their religion.”

“Upon all this, no one have been prosecuted and convicted since the promulgation of the 1984 Edict," CAN added while rejecting the proposed representative of CAN, JNI, Police, SSS, Head of Service among others that will form the ministerial body constituted by the Governor in regulating religious activities in the State.

“When it comes to votes, representatives of CAN may not contest the decision of the majority Muslims the governor will select as we have seen in his appointments.”

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