Date Published: 09/02/09
Boko Haram and Shariah law what is the difference?
By Emeka Collins Eke
I found it very difficult to understand the outrage and surprise many Nigerian expressed when they heard the meaning of Boko Haram and the religious believes and their plan in Nigerian society. I was particularly surprised of the reaction of Northern political leaders. Anti-Western (or European) education, Culture and way of life are deep rooted in Northern Muslim society and form the core of their distrust toward the south particularly the south east. The South East Christian tends to be more closely associated with western education than any other region in Nigeria and expresses some afimity towards western culture, education and tradition.
There is really NO difference between Sharia and Boko Haram, both emphases anti-western ideas one is more specific than than other.
Boko Haram literally means western education is sin or western education is anti-Islam and seek to impose Sharia law and culture on Nigerian society. Sharia Law also rejects western judicial system (a product of Western Edcational system) and seek to impose Islamic law on Nigerian society. Both seek a framework within which the public and private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal, cultural and educational system based on Islamic principles. Both deal with many aspects of day to day life, including politics, economics, tradition, culture, business, contracts, family, sexual behavour and other social issues. For decades Nothern political elites have always maintained that western educational system is anti-Muslim, hence the backwardness in education in the north when compared to the southern Nigeria. Northern Muslim definition of education is any Muslim that can read, memorise the Koran, believe and practice the words of Allah is well educated person.
Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of Boko Haram was simply spreading the message most leaders of the Northern political establishment for years have being nurturing. More than 10 Thousand Nigerians have died as a result of religious violences against other religion within the last 8 years mostly Christain Igbos.Those who are inspired to organize and carry out violence acts against other religion and culture seek to bring about a disintegration of that country I will let the readers of this article determine which part of the country seek the disintegration of Nigeria. Former Governor of Zamfara State Alhaji Sani Yerima said that his wish is to transform Nigeria to a kind of Saudi Arabia of Africa where the Constitution will be Koran just like Saudi Arabia. It was the late Ayatullah Khomeini of Iran once said that Islam and politics/government are inseparable in Muslim religious culture. But Democracy can only function properly if religion is separated from politics/government therefore there is no democracy in Nothern Nigeria because Northern Muslim States believe that government should be ran based on Koranic or Islamic laws. I challenge any one out there to name any Muslim country that practices Democracy from Middle East to Asian countries. Keep in mind that the definition of a Muslim country is one that is at least 90% Muslim according to the United Nations and Nigeria is 45% Muslims.
Emeka Collins Eke
Los Angeles, California, U. S. A
E-mail cceke@socal.rr.com.
E-Mail cceke7@aol.com
