Ezekiel Awojide, Abuja
Kano State Government has said nothing will make it annul its blasphemy laws.
The state was reacting to a verdict by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which declared certain aspects of the blasphemy laws inconsistent with international human rights standards.
However, the state asserted its constitutional right to uphold religious sanctity within its jurisdiction.
In a statement signed on Sunday by the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, the state said it remained unyielding, citing its legal authority to protect the values and beliefs of its predominantly Muslim population.
The statement said, “We will not be deterred by external pressures. Our responsibility is to uphold the values of our society, which are grounded in religious and moral beliefs. While we respect international opinions, our laws are a reflection of our people’s will.
“The Kano government’s defense is rooted in Nigeria’s federal system, where states retain the right to enact laws reflecting local social, moral, and religious contexts.
“The people of Kano have entrusted us with the responsibility to maintain peace and protect their religious values. These laws are central to that mission, and they will remain firmly in place.
“We fully respect the court’s authority, but the laws that govern our state must reflect the unique moral and religious fabric of our people.”
