The Kano State Government has defended its blasphemy laws following a ruling by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which found aspects of the laws to be inconsistent with international human rights standards.
In a statement shared with Sunday PUNCH, the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to upholding what he called the religious and moral values of its predominantly Muslim population.
“We will not be deterred by external pressures,” Waiya stated. “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 reflect the will of our people.”
Waiya emphasized that under Nigeria’s federal system, states have the constitutional authority to enact laws aligned with their local social, cultural, and religious contexts, particularly in matters related to public order and morality.
He noted that Kano’s blasphemy laws are part of a broader framework of legal pluralism in Nigeria, where states can legislate on criminal matters under the Concurrent Legislative List.
While acknowledging the ECOWAS Court’s judgment, the state government maintains that its legal stance is consistent with the expectations of its citizens and crucial to preserving religious harmony.