US embassy cable - 01ABUJA2106

UNCLAS ABUJA 002106 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
NOFORN 
FOR DRL (TOMLYANOVICH), AF/W (CUNDIFF) AND AF/RA 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: POST RESPONSE TO IRF EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
 
SBU/NOFORN -- ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
 
1.  Mission strongly disagrees with some of the statements 
made in the draft IRF Executive Summary on Nigeria emailed to 
Post.  In the interest of accuracy, we suggest replacing the 
text on pages 12 and 13 with the following: 
 
 
"While the violence of early 2000 was not repeated during the 
reporting period, relations between Christians and Muslims 
remained uneasy and even tense in some parts of Nigeria. 
While most of the conflict during the reporting period was 
inter-ethnic rather than inter-religious in origin, the 
return of  criminal Shari'a law exacerbated tensions in some 
areas.  Nine Northern states followed Zamfara State's lead 
and re-introduced most elements of criminal Shari'a.  Shari'a 
law by definition only applies to Muslims, but some Northern 
Christians are concerned that their religious freedoms may be 
infringed by this return to Islamic criminal law.  In some 
states Shari'a criminal jurisdiction over Muslims is 
mandatory, while in others Muslims may elect to have their 
cases tried in common-law courts.  This represents a change 
from past practice.  Previously, Shari'a courts only heard 
Muslims' cases involving family and civil law matters. 
During the reporting period, there were episodic minor 
conflicts between Christians and Muslims in several States 
considering the re-introduction of criminal Shari'a. 
 
 
2.  COMMENT:  It is materially inaccurate to assert that 
there "was a deterioration of respect for religious freedom 
during the period covered by this report."  Such a sentence 
detracts from the important information contained in the 
report.  Many Nigerians who could benefit from reading and 
absorbing that information will be so put off by the first 
sentence that they might dismiss the entire report.  That 
would be unfortunate.  The Mission understands that many 
Christians fear and resent the implementation of criminal 
Shari'a law, just as many Muslims resent the fact that 
British authorities significantly diluted it during the 
colonial period.  For them, the return of criminal Shari'a 
law restores their lost religious freedom.  One person's 
freedom can be another person's shackles in a society that 
takes a zero-sum approach to politics.  We would further the 
cause of religious freedom far more effectively by 
acknowledging that these issues are difficult in any 
multi-ethnic, multi-religious society, most particularly in 
one grappling with political transition.  Appearing to take 
sides with Nigeria's Christians creates a significant risk of 
harder lines on both sides. 
Jeter