Islamic criminal law in Northern Nigeria : politics, religions, judicial practices / Gunnar J. Weimann

In 2000 and 2001, twelve northern states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria introduced Islamic criminal law as one of a number of measures aiming at'reintroducing the shari'a.' Immediately after its adoption, defendants were sentenced to death by stoning or to amputation of the hand. Apart from a few well publicised trials, however, the number and nature of cases tried under Islamic criminal law are little known. Based on a sample of trials, the present thesis discusses the introduction of Islamic criminal law and the evolution of judicial practice within the regions historical, cultural, political and religious context. The introduction of Islamic criminal law was initiated by politicians and supported by Muslim reform groups, but its potential effects were soon mitigated on higher judicial levels and aspects of the law were contained by local administrators.

Includes bibliographical references (page : 173-200).

Cover13; -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Ch1. Judicial Practice in Islamic Criminal Law in Nigeria 8212; A Tentative Overview13; -- Ch2. Divine Law and Local Custom in Northern Nigerian Zina Trials13; -- Ch3. Islamic Law and Muslim Governance in Northern Nigeria: crimes against life, limb and property in sharia judicial practice13; -- Ch4. An Alternative Vision of Sharia Application in Northern Nigeria: Ibrahim Salih8217;s add offences in the sharia13; -- Ch5. The Fatwa and the Beast: Islamic authority and Muslim unity in northern Nigeria in light of the 2002 Miss World Crisis13; -- Conclusion -- Appendix: Identified trials under Islamic criminal law13; -- Bibliography -- Summary -- Samenvatting.

Summary in English and Dutch