The divided northern Nigerian city of Kaduna, torn by bloody Christian-Muslim clashes which left more than 2,000 dead last year, Friday launched a compromise version of Islamic law, hoping to prevent new battles with angry Christians.
Special prayers were held early Friday in the Central Mosque in Kaduna to celebrate the launch of the Islamic legal code known as the Sharia.
"We are thankful to Allah," said 38-year-old Muslim Umar Ibrahim who lost both a brother and a friend in the February 2000 clashes which erupted over demands for the imposition of full Islamic law here.
"This arrangement is only part of what is desired by Muslims, but given the nature of the state, there is a need for compromise," said Ibrahim, a mechanic from the Rigasa district.
Kaduna, the political capital of mainly Muslim northern Nigeria, has for years been divided along religious lines but, according to residents, those divisions have hardened considerably following the clashes last year.
The complex compromise launched Friday brings into operation Islamic or 'Sharia' courts for Muslims to attend; customary or traditional law courts for Christians and animists; and penal law courts for disputed cases.
In total, 75 Sharia courts will be opened across the state and, so far, 35 Sharia judges, or khadis, have been appointed. A similar number of customary courts will be set up alongside existing penal courts.
Mukhtar Sirajo, an adviser to Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, told AFP the system was designed to please everyone and anger no-one.
"If it is true that Muslims want Sharia, it will (be acceptable to Muslims)," he said. "Meanwhile, the customary courts will take care of the interests of non-Muslims."
The complex system leaves room for confusion, however. A registrar at an existing penal court told AFP Friday she was not certain what laws it was supposed to be applying or how the system would operate.
Makarfi said last week, for instance, that the state authorities would not ban Christians from selling alcohol.
"In this state, from November 2, Sharia courts, customary courts and common law courts will come into effect.
"However, given the complex nature of our state and the unfortunate events we experienced last year, we will not implement the Sharia as is done in other states," he said.
However, Grand Khadi Ibrahim Maccido told AFP Muslim-led local governments in the state would be able to enact bye-laws banning alcohol sales, though implementation would be left to the state.
Anglican Archbishop of Kaduna Benjamin Achigili told AFP that Christians would object to Islamic law if they are affected by it in living their lives, but would accept the system if it were only to affect Muslims.
"Christians have a stake in the Sharia issue as long as it affects their lives. But if the Sharia is exclusively for Muslims we have no worries about it. Let it be," he said.
Prominent Muslim scholar Auwal Sa'id, a member of the Kaduna State Sharia implementation committee, said the system would affect some Christians, but in ways he said would be beneficial for them.
"The main problem is the understanding our Christian brethren have of what Sharia is all about... The Sharia is only meant for Muslims but there are occasions where it affects both Muslims and non-Muslims in a mutually beneficial manner," he said, mentioning tackling corruption.
In an indication of how nervous state authorities are, no formal ceremonies would be held Friday to mark the opening of the first Islamic courts, or the launch of the Sharia and customary court systems, officials said.
And on Thursday, Christian and Muslim leaders held a closed-door meeting with Makarfi.
The situation in the city remained tense.
One issue creating tension is the leaking last month of a report by a commission of inquiry blaming Christian leaders for the clashes last year.
State officials were said to have submitted the report to the police and the Special Investigation Bureau for investigation of the Christian leaders -- KADUNA, Nigeria (AFP)
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