- JNI highlighted the historical societal norms in Nigeria and stressed the rejection of same-sex marriage, echoing the stance taken by the eighth Senate in 2013 amidst significant public pressure
The umbrella group for Nigeria’s Muslim community, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), emphasized the continuation of the criminalization of same-sex marriage in Nigeria.
Led by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, JNI reaffirmed this stance in a communique following its Annual Central Council Meeting held on December 11, 2023, in Minna, Niger State.
In a 10-point resolution addressing various issues concerning the Muslim Ummah and the nation, JNI highlighted the historical societal norms in Nigeria and stressed the rejection of same-sex marriage, echoing the stance taken by the eighth Senate in 2013 amidst significant public pressure.
JNI expressed concern over the recent activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in Nigeria, describing it as alarming and contrary to societal values. Additionally, the group criticized the lack of effective leadership and political will in the country, citing these as major impediments to Nigeria’s infrastructural, social, and economic progress.
The umbrella group for Nigeria’s Muslim community, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), emphasized the continuation of the criminalization of same-sex marriage in Nigeria. Led by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, JNI reaffirmed this stance in a communique following its Annual Central Council Meeting held on December 11, 2023, in Minna, Niger State.
In a 10-point resolution addressing various issues concerning the Muslim Ummah and the nation, JNI highlighted the historical societal norms in Nigeria and stressed the rejection of same-sex marriage, echoing the stance taken by the eighth Senate in 2013 amidst significant public pressure.
JNI expressed concern over the recent activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in Nigeria, describing it as alarming and contrary to societal values. Additionally, the group criticized the lack of effective leadership and political will in the country, citing these as major impediments to Nigeria’s infrastructural, social, and economic progress.
The 10 points resolutions partly read: “A thorough and transparent investigation be conducted on the military attack on Tudun-Biri, Kaduna State, where more than 120 innocent Muslims were shelled – who authorised the attack, what intelligence was used, how could the attack be repeated thirty minutes later after the first one? The JNI and other Muslim organisations must be on top of the matter and keep the Ummah informed; while the necessary sanctions against the culprits must be satisfactorily seen to be applied by the Federal Government, just as we reiterate our earlier call for due compensation (Diyyah) to all the deceased families and the government should take-up complete medicals of all the injured victims. We nonetheless call on all Muslims to exercise restraint and patience, as we await the outcome of investigations on the matter;
“That the JNI must lead other Muslim Organisations and Ulama’ in reviving ethos of Islam among the youths, as well as inculcating in them the pristine values of the religion via a sustained reorientation of priorities;
“With the reforms in the financial industry and the coming of Islamic Banking, Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqa (charity) should be easier to collect and administer now, as there is, the need for the JNI to convene a National Zakah (Due Alms), Waqf (Endowment) and Sadaqa (Charity) Summit with Islamic bankers, Muslim organisations and Ulama’ in charting ways of leveraging on the current trends in the industry;
“The JNI and Muslim leadership must be decisive in ensuring the unity of the Ummah – for example, a strategy must be deployed to eliminate the ‘Yan Hakika phenomenon, as these miscreants have been disowned by the Sufi Tariqas they claim to be part of;
“Still on insecurity, a majority of the bandits and insurgents terrorising the Muslim community are themselves professed Muslims – the JNI and the country’s Muslim leadership must not shirk their responsibility in advising the security agencies, as well as reaching out to some of the more malleable miscreants to bring an end to this sorry state of affairs, as many non-state actors are filling the vacuum of this role;
“The lopsided nature of the recruitment process into the Federal security agencies detrimental to and biased against otherwise qualified Muslim candidates requires a thorough audit to be undertaken by the JNI and other Islamic organisations, in addition to putting pressure on Muslim National Assembly Members and Muslim Governors to redress the imbalance.”