March 30, 2005

JOS, Nigeria/GENEVA –"Muslims will always demand Shariah (Islamic law) wherever they find themselves, but it will never apply to Christians." A Muslim scholar from southern Nigeria made these remarks during a conference on Christian-Muslim relations held in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, the first state to introduce Shari'ah in northern Nigeria in 1999. Later, eleven other states followed the Zamfara example and applied Shariah criminal laws.

"Shariah and Christian-Muslim Relations in Nigeria: The Way Forward," was the theme of the meeting, the sixth in a series organized by the Association of Christian-Muslim Mutual Relations in Nigeria, in conjunction with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Zamfara State Government. Rev. Dr David L. Windibiziri, retired archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) is president of the association that was established in 1992.

The March 1-5 conference was the first to be co-hosted by the state, an indication of increasing engagement of politicians and religious leaders in issues that relate to religious co-existence. Over 80 Christians and Muslims including imams, bishops and pastors from different Christian denominations, scholars from several universities, representatives of religious organizations and media workers from all over Nigeria attended the conference. Also participating were five members of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Christian-Muslim study team on the role of religion in conflicts.

There were presentations by theologians from both religions. Members of the LWF "Christian-Muslim Dialogue: Conflict and Peace" study team also listened to and learned from a variety of discussions and interviews with participants from areas in northern Nigeria that had been affected by conflicts and crises between Christians and Muslims since 1990.

After the conference until March 13, the team comprising a Christian and Muslim representative each from Denmark, Indonesia, Nigeria and the United States of America, was also able to gain insight into the problems connected with the implementation of Shariah, especially in the northern states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi, and the concern this had created among Christians. Some Christians feared that an Islamic state would eventually be declared, resulting in the elimination of Christianity.

The study team's meetings with politicians, Christian and Muslim leaders and community members in Abuja, Bauchi, Gusau, Jos and in Adamawa State where the Lutheran church is widespread, somewhat explained the complexity of the situation. The violent conflicts that had taken place in northern Nigeria in recent years were not spontaneous as earlier conflicts, but had been well prepared, often with support from outside the country. Poverty, unemployment, corruption and feelings of neglect and exclusion from power and decision-making positions appeared to be the primary causes, while ethnicity and religion were used to fuel the conflicts.

Grassroots Involvement Crucial for Reconciliation Processes

Christian and Muslim organizations have often been involved in several initiatives aimed at securing peace and harmony in the country, and the two LWF member churches in Nigeria, the LCCN and Lutheran Church of Nigeria have played a central role in such processes. But there is concern about political involvement.

"The process of reconciliation and peace building has been stolen by politicians and media from the people who are suffering. It must be given back to the grassroots," said Rev. Gopar Barnabas Topkida, director of the Mennonite Central Committee local peace program. Topkida who works with community groups and organizations to create bridges of understanding and develop peace building skills especially in and around the Jos area, particularly criticized televised peace conferences involving politicians, that started and ended with a Christian and Muslim prayer.

Reconciliation and healing of deep wounds in Christian-Muslim relations, the causes of conflicts and overcoming conflicts have been the focus of the LWF Christian-Muslim study process not only in Nigeria but also in Indonesia and Denmark, and later this year in two workshops in the United States of America. The findings of the process carried out through the LWF Department for Theology and Studies will be published at the beginning of 2006.

Lutheran World Information
Contributed by LWF study team member, Prof. Lissi Rasmussen from Denmark.