Islam in Nigeria

Boko Haram and Shari’a Law

Shari’a law adopted in 12 northern states in Nigeria

History of Shari’a in Nigeria

• Comes from Maliki Law – 8th century Imam• Sunni• British colonialism – “indirect rule” • Zamfara state first to adopt in 2000• Goal – purification

Shari’a Law v. Nigerian Law

• Coexists uneasily• Freedom of religious practice v. no established religion• Criminal enforcement by federal police v. hisba• Penalties: stoning for adultery, right hand amputated for

theft, 80 lashes w/ a whip for drinking alcohol• Can’t opt out• Conflicts between Sharia and civil law not easy to resolve• Conflicts with Nigerian federal legislature• Conflicts with human rights/UDHR

“Western Education if Forbidden” - Meet Boko Haram

• Since 2002• Lead by Muhammad Yusuf• Patterned after Taliban in

Afghanistan• Based in northern Nigerian

city of Maiduguri• Unaffiliated with wider

jihadi network• Rejects evolution, water

cycle and believes earth is flat – no kidding.

Boko Haram leader Muhammad Yusuf

The group's official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad".

Yusuf in 2009 BBC interview

• "There are prominent Islamic preachers who have seen and understood that the present Western-style education is mixed with issues that run contrary to our beliefs in Islam," he said.

• "Like rain. We believe it is a creation of God rather than an evaporation caused by the sun that condenses and becomes rain.

• "Like saying the world is a sphere. If it runs contrary to the teachings of Allah, we reject it. We also reject the theory of Darwinism."

bbc.com July 31, 2009 – Muhammad Yusuf was killed the day this article was published.

Violence as a political means

• Staged dozens of terror attacks starting in 2003 • Attacked police installations to steal weapons• Yusuf killed in 2009 by Nigerian forces• 2010 prison break – 100 members set free• Membership between 5,000-8,000?• 45 major terror operations between September

2010 and November 2011 mostly in northern Nigeria• University of Maiduguri shut down July 2011

Students evacuating University of Maiduguri, July 2011

Violence spreads

• Attacked candidates for office and opposition Islamic clerics• Abuja• United Nations compound

summer 2011• “Middle belt” – Plateau

state, April 2012• Cell service cut in Yobe,

Borno and Adamawa states May-July 2013

Religious Cleansing?

• Targeting Christians in northern Nigeria• Abuja Christmas Day church bombing 2011, 42

killed• Many Christians have fled northern states of

Borno and Yobe

Bombing in Damaturu,northern Nigeria, June 2012

How dangerous is Boko Haram?

• Spreading across Nigeria but leadership diffuse• Too uncoordinated to negotiate with?• Current leader Abubakar Shekau not charismatic like Yusuf• No current threat outside Nigeria• May be linked to Al Qaida in Maghreb, Somalia jihadists or AQAP –

suicide bombings?• Basically in control of northeastern Nigeria• Shari’a in all of Nigeria? Not likely• Nigerian government too weak to effectively deal with Boko Haram

Abubakar Shekau africanheraldexpress.com

Sources• BBC.com• NPR.org• David Cook, PhD., Baker Institute, Rice University, Boko Haram:

A Prognosis, December 2011• Foreignpolicy.com ‘Is Nigeria the Next Front of the War on

Terror?” July 2012• Nigerianmailonline.com• Ruud Peters, PhD., University of Amsterdam, Report to

European Commission, The Reintroduction of Islamic Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria, September 2001

• UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, IRINnews.com