MURIC Calls for Sharia Courts and Friday Public Holidays in South West Constitutional Review Proposal

An Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for constitutional amendments to establish Sharia Courts in all South West states and to officially recognize Fridays as public holidays to accommodate Muslim worship practices.

The group’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the proposals during the South West Zonal Public Hearing on constitutional review. Represented by Dr. Jamiu Busari, Akintola addressed the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, stressing the need for inclusiveness and legal equity for Muslims in the region.

“No Sharia Court currently exists in South West Nigeria, despite the region having a significant Muslim population,” Akintola stated. “This contradicts pre-colonial Yoruba history, where Islamic law was widely practiced before British rule.”

He called for the creation of Sharia Courts of Appeal in all South West states, including Edo, to handle Islamic personal matters such as marriage, inheritance, and contracts. He emphasized that these courts would operate strictly within the framework of Muslim law and would not affect non-Muslims.

Call for Friday as a Public Holiday

In addition to judicial reforms, MURIC urged the National Assembly to declare Fridays as public holidays nationwide. Akintola argued that Nigeria’s current weekend arrangement — Saturday and Sunday — disproportionately favors Christians.

“Before colonialism, Muslims observed Thursday and Friday as their rest days. Today, we only get two Islamic public holidays out of eight, compared to five for Christians,” he noted.

Akintola also criticized the historical basis of Nigeria’s weekend structure, stating that Saturday was made a full rest day under General Yakubu Gowon’s administration to accommodate Seventh-Day Adventists.

“This colonial weekend format excludes Muslims and lacks religious fairness. Recognizing Friday will restore balance and respect for Muslim traditions,” he said.

Recognition of Islamic Marriages

Another key point in MURIC’s submission was a call for legal recognition of Islamic marriages (Nikkah). Akintola said that while Christian weddings in churches and registries are legally recognized nationwide, Muslim marriages are often ignored in formal settings, causing bureaucratic challenges for Muslim couples.

“This is discriminatory and must be corrected through constitutional reform. Islamic marriages should carry equal legal weight as Christian ones,” he said.

Support from Other Islamic Bodies

The Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) backed MURIC’s demands and proposed the establishment of Islamic finance courts to promote ethical and Sharia-compliant economic systems.

Senate Response

Deputy Senate President Jubrin Barau, represented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, assured the public that all submissions from the hearing would be carefully reviewed and considered by the National Assembly.

The constitutional hearing in Lagos also saw participation from youth, student, and women organizations, who presented their own reform proposals.

MURIC’s call for Sharia courts and the recognition of Fridays as public holidays marks a significant push for greater religious equity and judicial inclusion for Muslims in Nigeria’s South West region.