| Abstract: | The sentencing under Sharia law in Nigeria's northern stateof Katsina in 2002 of a 31-year-old woman, Amina Lawal, to bestoned to death for adultery highlighted the rising religiousconflict and violence that has occurred since the resumptionof civilian democratic governance in 1999. Although the practiceof Sharia in personal and civil matters had been accommodatedby the British and by Nigeria's various constitutions, whatwas new in 1999 was the extension of Sharia from civil to criminalmatters, thus producing such punishments as decapitation, amputation,and stoning to death, threatening the well-being of non-Muslims,endangering fundamental rights protected by Nigeria's federalConstitution, and posing significant challenges to elected officialsand federal courts. The extension of Sharia to criminal lawin 12 northern states also has increased intercommunal and intergovernmentalconflict, threatening the fabric of Nigerian federalism. |
