Senegal
Senegal
Christians Fear Expansion of Shari’a
19th August 2003 (Barnabas Fund) -- Christians have reacted with concern to calls for the adoption of elements of shari’a which threaten Senegal’s traditional religious toleration and secular constitution. A group called the Islamic Committee for Family Law Reform have published a plan entitled “Personal Statute Code for Muslims”, which has been entirely inspired by shari’a (Islamic law). They wish to see parliament adopt this as the family code for Muslims, but leaving Christians under the existing jurisdiction. While this seems to be a fairly harmless request, it is likely to be followed by further requests for change until full shari’a has been adopted in Senegal. In March 2000 a French diplomat posted in Dakar commented “Whereas the official Islam under the control of the brotherhoods has always been loyal to the state, a more aggressive Islam generously funded by Libyan and Saudi groups can be seen growing up alongside, which refuses to respect Senegalese secularity… in ten or fifteen years Senegal will become the first Islamic Republic in Black Africa”. In the same year, during his inauguration speech, President Abdoulaye Wade vowed to make Senegal 100% Muslim within three years. Christians in Senegal worry that they may be witnessing the first indications of the creeping growth of shari’a, whose gradual expansion in countries like Pakistan and Nigeria has brought much suffering for religious minorities whose rights and freedoms have been reduced. Pakistan was created, in the words of founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with “no discrimination between one caste or creed or another”. After Jinnah’s death Islamisation of the country began. Within six months an “Objectives Resolution” was passed which assured “principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam shall be fully observed”. Later in 1979 shari’a benches in the superior courts were created and in 1980 a Federal Shari’a Court was established. That same year saw Hudood Ordinances being put into effect, i.e. shari’a punishments for theft (amputation) and adultery (stoning) were enforced. In June 2003 full shari’a was finally adopted in the North-West Frontier Province, and it seems as if Baluchistan may follow suit. Having established itself firmly at provincial level, Majlis-i-Amal, the party that has been pushing for full shari’a, now has significant influence at national level. In Nigeria shari’a has now been adopted by the twelve most northerly predominantly Muslim states. However with this clear Islamisation of the North, some Muslim leaders are now calling for shari’a to be applied (supposedly only to Muslims, though the practice is always different) in other states across the whole nation, even in the predominantly Christian South. Prior to these demands Christians in the South were at least able to reassure themselves that it was an exclusively northern issue. Anti-Western and anti-Christian violence has become increasingly widespread in Nigeria as a result of the tensions provoked by the calls for the adoption of shari’a. It is noteworthy that recent years have seen several attacks upon Christians and churches in Senegal, a hitherto religiously stable country. A particularly serious attack occurred on 26 May of last year. A Muslim mob led by a local politician stormed a church, drove out the Christians with knives and stones, and then refused to leave the building. PRAY Pray that politicians will be wise as they consider the prospect of a separate family-law code for Muslims. Pray that Muslims and Christians will continue to live peacefully alongside each other with mutual respect for the others’ rights. BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE The Barnabas Fund’s e-mail news service provides our supporters with short urgent news briefs and prayer requests for suffering Christians around the world. Please do share these news items with your Christian friends and churches. All news items are available on our website in a more colourful user-friendly presentation format which you can access, print and pass on. If you are not already receiving these news briefs directly from the Barnabas Fund and would like to, please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and details of the church you attend. The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK, Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030, E-mail info@barnabasfund.org Web www.barnabasfund.org