6 February 2001
Gausau — The Archbishop of Canterbury, Reverend George Carey has condemned the amputation of limbs and whipping of convicted thieves and fornicators respectively under the Sharia legal system in Zamfara state.
He said during his visit to Governor Ahmed Sani in Gusau at the weekend that the punishments were too harsh. Archbishop Carey has also regretted the report of discrimination against Christians in employment in the state civil service as well as the unwillingness of the state government to allow the construction of Christian places of worship in the state.
According to him, there was no reason for competition between the two major religions of Christianity and Islam as both of them shared many things in common.
Archbishop Carey was apparently upset by the recent amputation of a convicted cow thief, Jangebe and the whipping of a nursing mother of 17, Bariya Ibrahim, who was said to have committed fornication in the state. However, the state governor has vowed to press ahead with the administration of punishments as enunciated in the legal code, saying that amputation of convicted thieves and whipping for convicted fornicators were cardinal provisions in the Islamic legal code operated in the state.
Alhaji Sani observed that there was the need for human rights advocates to view punishments under Sharia in a different light in such a way that would accommodate the perception of Muslims. The governor, however, assured the Archbishop that everything was being done to give a sense of belonging to Christians in the state.
Similarly, he reiterated the implementation of the Sharia law would not have anything to do with Christians as it was basically an all Muslim affair.
The governor who expressed delight at the opportunity to discuss the Sharia question with "a great Christian leader" remarked that he did not know that the Sharia issue would become a national question when he began its implementation in Zamfara state.
"When we started Sharia, I didn't know it was going to be a national issue. We discussed it with Christian leaders in the state and a lot of consultation was made.
"It is not for some people to use to gain political points. It is a way of life for Muslims. The legal aspect is just about two per cent," he declared.
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