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Nigerians Express Disappointment With Sharia

Islamic law, known as Sharia, was introduced to Northern Nigeria nearly a decade ago. However, few of the reforms many Nigerians hoped for have come to pass.

Men ride motorbikes on the streets of Kano, Northern Nigeria's largest city. Nearly a decade ago, a wave of popular support brought Islamic religious law, called Sharia, to the area. Since its introduction, however, Sharia has not delivered the moral justice many Northern Nigerians hoped it would bring after decades of abuse by civilian and military rule.

Men ride motorbikes on the streets of Kano, Northern Nigeria's largest city. Nearly a decade ago, a wave of popular support brought Islamic religious law, called Sharia, to the area. Since its introduction, however, Sharia has not delivered the moral justice many Northern Nigerians hoped it would bring after decades of abuse by civilian and military rule.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Children study the Koran at an Islamic school in Kano. Sharia is based off the Koran, which provides many provisions that direct the daily lives of Northern Nigerian Muslims. How Sharia reforms ultimately play out could be pivotal to stability in West Africa, a region where Islam has achieved a fragile coexistence with the Christianity that dominates the more prosperous southern regions.

Children study the Koran at an Islamic school in Kano. Sharia is based off the Koran, which provides many provisions that direct the daily lives of Northern Nigerian Muslims. How Sharia reforms ultimately play out could be pivotal to stability in West Africa, a region where Islam has achieved a fragile coexistence with the Christianity that dominates the more prosperous southern regions.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Citizens pass through a crowded street in Kano. Despite fears of human rights violations by the Sharia police, known as the Hisbah, religious law in Kano has turned out to be fairly temperate, due to local sensibilities and its existence within a secular federal system. At the same time, however, the law has failed to deliver the progress many citizens hoped it would bring about.

Citizens pass through a crowded street in Kano. Despite fears of human rights violations by the Sharia police, known as the Hisbah, religious law in Kano has turned out to be fairly temperate, due to local sensibilities and its existence within a secular federal system. At the same time, however, the law has failed to deliver the progress many citizens hoped it would bring about.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Nigerians pound fabric with wooden blocks to make it shine. Many say that disappointment with Sharia has weakened public faith in democracy, as most people are still poor and politicians are still rich. Some of the disenchanted have turned to religious militancy, highlighted last month when a radical Islamic sect called Boko Haram attacked security forces in Northern Nigeria, triggering a bloodbath that killed more than 700 people.

Nigerians pound fabric with wooden blocks to make it shine. Many say that disappointment with Sharia has weakened public faith in democracy, as most people are still poor and politicians are still rich. Some of the disenchanted have turned to religious militancy, highlighted last month when a radical Islamic sect called Boko Haram attacked security forces in Northern Nigeria, triggering a bloodbath that killed more than 700 people.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

A local man, Salisu Saidu, works at his shop, selling leather bags in Kano's main market. "Nothing has changed," said Saidu about the introduction of Sharia law to the region. "If one relied on tap water, one would die of thirst. We don't even talk of electricity. It's virtually nonexistent."

A local man, Salisu Saidu, works at his shop, selling leather bags in Kano's main market. "Nothing has changed," said Saidu about the introduction of Sharia law to the region. "If one relied on tap water, one would die of thirst. We don't even talk of electricity. It's virtually nonexistent."

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Workers dye fabrics at the indigo dye pits in Kano, dipping the fabric over and over until the hue is deep enough. Due to the poor conditions that continue to plague Nigeria, many of the region's leaders have been accused of corruption. The Sharia police, in particular, have faced allegations of terrorizing religious rule-breakers.

Workers dye fabrics at the indigo dye pits in Kano, dipping the fabric over and over until the hue is deep enough. Due to the poor conditions that continue to plague Nigeria, many of the region's leaders have been accused of corruption. The Sharia police, in particular, have faced allegations of terrorizing religious rule-breakers.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Veiled women stand on a street corner as a motorbike passes. Motorbikes are the preferred mode of transport in Kano, while green signs with verses from the Koran are common on many street corners. One Sharia reform tried to ban women from riding such motorbike taxis, but protests ensued and women have still been able to zip about Kano with their arms around male drivers.

Veiled women stand on a street corner as a motorbike passes. Motorbikes are the preferred mode of transport in Kano, while green signs with verses from the Koran are common on many street corners. One Sharia reform tried to ban women from riding such motorbike taxis, but protests ensued and women have still been able to zip about Kano with their arms around male drivers.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

Ahmad al-Khanawy, a filmmaker and leader of Kannywood's motion picture association, poses for a photo. Movie censorship has been one of the most visible reforms introduced by Islamic law. However, many Northern Nigerians have called such minor reforms window-dressing, disappointed that other tenets of Islam such as providing welfare for the downtrodden have largely been ignored by government officials.

Ahmad al-Khanawy, a filmmaker and leader of Kannywood's motion picture association, poses for a photo. Movie censorship has been one of the most visible reforms introduced by Islamic law. However, many Northern Nigerians have called such minor reforms window-dressing, disappointed that other tenets of Islam such as providing welfare for the downtrodden have largely been ignored by government officials.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

A man takes a break from selling grains at a market in Kano to pray. Despite their frustration with how Sharia law has turned out, Kano residents have remained extremely religious. Government officials also say they are doing their best, insisting there is no turning back on Islamic law, though they concede that a full Sharia state in multi-faith Nigeria is impossible.

A man takes a break from selling grains at a market in Kano to pray. Despite their frustration with how Sharia law has turned out, Kano residents have remained extremely religious. Government officials also say they are doing their best, insisting there is no turning back on Islamic law, though they concede that a full Sharia state in multi-faith Nigeria is impossible.

Karin Brulliard-The Washington Post

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This Story In Nigeria, Sharia Fails to Deliver Article \| KANO, Nigeria -- As military rule ended in Nigeria a decade ago, an Islamic legal system was swept into place on a wave of popular support in the country's desperately poor and mostly Muslim northern states. It has turned out in a way few expected. Nigerians Express Disappointment With Sharia Clinton Says Corruption Undermines Nigeria's Government World Briefing Podcast: Clinton in Africa		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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