Governor Abubakar Hashidu, of the northern state of Gombe, signed a draft law to establish Shariah, his Cabinet government announced today.
The legislation, approved Friday by Gombe legislators, responds to Muslims´ demands, Hashidu said. Non-Muslims will continue to be judged by ordinary courts, but Muslims will have to appear before Islamic courts, he said.
«If you are a Christian, your right is guaranteed by the ordinary law. If you are a Muslim, it is also guaranteed by the Shariah,» the governor stressed.
Twelve other states have adopted Islamic law, despite the opposition of the federal government, Christian associations and human rights groups.
