Report on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir: Mission to Nigeria

From 27 February to 7 March 2005, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir, carried out a visit to Nigeria at her request and further to an invitation from the Government of Nigeria. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur noted that tensions and lack of understanding between Muslim and Christian communities, which had been so far contained and confined to certain areas, had aggravated in recent years. In particular, the adoption of criminal law based on sharia by a number of northern states since 1999 has provoked negative reactions among members of the non-Muslim communities, although only Muslims are subject to these legal systems. Moreover, while economic, political and other factors contribute to such tensions, they have often led to polarization along religious lines. For these reasons, the Special Rapporteur is of the opinion that the level of enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief is not satisfactory. Moreover, she is concerned that the increase in religious tensions may further hamper the enjoyment of this right among the Nigerian population.