BBC News Online: Background

Nigerian state plans to introduce sharia

The governor of the Nigerian state of Zamfara says he is determined to go through with his plan to introduce sharia or Islamic law on Wednesday.

The decision has caused controversy in Nigeria, where religion is a highly sensitive issue. The country is divided between a mainly Muslim north and the Christian south.

Religious disputes frequently become entangled with ethnic and political arguments.

Political and religious leaders across northern Nigeria have welcomed the news from Zamfara. Christian leaders have passionately denounced it.

Mr Sani says his decision is irreversible, ignoring pleas from Christian leaders to abandon his plan.

And while he says sharia will only be applied to Muslims living in the state, he warns against outside interference:

"We will resist any attempt to interfere with our religion. If Christians will just allow us to have our religion there would be no problem. But if they try to tamper with our religion, we can give everything we have, including our lives to protect and defend our religion."

Legality uncertain

But it is not clear if Mr Sani's moves are legal. He says Nigeria's constitution allows him to introduce a full sharia criminal code. Many lawyers disagree.

Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is a devout Christian, has not made any public comment.

This controversy may well end up in court, but not before dangerous passions on both sides of the religious divide have been enflamed.

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