15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

In Zamfara State all criminal cases involving Muslims must be heard by a Shari'a court; in adultery and fornication cases sometimes harsher penalties are applied against women ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17757]

"In Zamfara State, all criminal cases involving Muslims must be heard by a Shari'a court. Other states utilizing Shari'a law permit Muslims to choose secular courts for criminal cases; however, societal pressure compelled most Muslims to use the Shari'a court system. Some kadis (Shari'a judges) apply harsher penalties in adultery and fornication cases against women than in such cases against men and require stronger evidence to convict men than to convict women. While this legal standard still existed, there was less controversy surrounding specific Shari'a cases in the reporting period than during previous periods. No specific cases of adultery or fornication were known to have been prosecuted during the reporting period. There are no laws barring women or any groups from testifying in secular court or that give less weight to their testimony; however, the testimony of women and non-Muslims usually is accorded less weight in Shari'a courts."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Zamfara state: In October 2004 police opened fire at a crowd trying to demand traditional Ramadan alms from the State governor; 2 were killed, 3 injured ("International Religious Freedom Report 2006") [ID 17805]

"There were instances of violence by security forces. In October 2004, during Ramadan, police killed two persons and injured three or four others in Gusau, the capital of mostly Muslim Zamfara State in the northwest. A crowd had approached the state government's building to demand traditional Ramadan alms from the Zamfara State governor. Police at the gates stopped the crowd from advancing, a scuffle ensued, and police opened fire. No further investigation was expected in the incident."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Taxi driver Malam Danjariri shot dead by police officers ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15676]

"On May 18, on a Zamfara state highway, taxi driver Malam Danjariri was shot and killed during a scuffle with three police officers who had demanded a $0.15 (20 naira) bribe from him. Following the incident, riots erupted in which three persons were killed. One policeman was charged with culpable homicide and dismissed from the police force, while the other two officers were demoted."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Women affected to varying degrees by Shari'a in the 12 Northern states ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17418]

"Women were affected to varying degrees by Shari'a in the 12 northern states. In Zamfara State, local governments enforced laws requiring the separation of Muslim men and women in transportation and health care. Kano State announced in May that commercial motorcycle taxis could no longer take women as passengers because, it claimed, the transport of women on motorcycles was contrary to Shari'a. The state government did not cite any specific Koranic references in announcing the ban. Both Muslim and non-Muslim women were affected by the ban."

Document(s): Open document