“Wherever Muslims are killed, it doesn’t concern the West or the U.S - Sharia Council

Monday, November 3, 2025 - The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Kaduna State Chapter, has condemned the United States government’s recent decision to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Great Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the move as biased and misleading.

In a statement released in Kaduna, the Council’s Secretary, Engineer Hassan Abdul Rahman, criticised the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called a “one-sided narrative” that fails to reflect Nigeria’s complex security realities.

“The Council is not happy with this development on allegations regarding Christian genocide in Nigeria,” Abdul Rahman said. “The Trump administration should have sought a balanced perspective on the situation before jumping to conclusions.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s insecurity is driven by a “complex web of ethnic, political, and economic challenges,” not a targeted campaign against Christians.

“By statistics, it’s clear that Muslims are mostly the victims in various instances,” he said. “Attributing these tensions solely to religious motivations oversimplifies the realities on the ground and undermines efforts toward national unity and peace.”

Abdul Rahman accused Western powers of selective empathy, alleging that global outrage tends to rise only when Christians are affected, while violence against Muslims receives far less attention.

“Wherever Muslims are killed, it doesn’t concern the West or the U.S.,” he said. “They always highlight issues affecting Christians while remaining silent on violence against Muslims. This bias breeds distrust and alienation among Muslim communities everywhere.”

The SCSN also faulted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for allegedly spreading misinformation that it said fuels religious division in the country.

“To CAN, who initiated these lies, they should know that when Nigeria sinks, may Allah forbid, it’s all of us that will bear the brunt,” Abdul Rahman warned. “Christians, Muslims, not even pagans will be spared.”

He urged Nigerians to reject what he described as foreign attempts to deepen sectarian divides and instead focus on unity and dialogue.

“Let us not allow foreign lies to divide us. Through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation, Nigeria can overcome its challenges and build a peaceful future for all,” he said. “We advocate for unity among Nigeria’s diverse religious groups as a means to combat the violence plaguing the nation. We must solve our differences without inviting bloodthirsty imperialists to destroy the only nation we have.”

The Council called on the federal government to respond more decisively to the U.S. designation, arguing that diplomatic statements alone would not suffice.

“Our position is clear, we strongly condemn this decision by the U.S.,” Abdul Rahman declared. “The government must do more than issue statements through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Stern action must be taken, even if it means cutting diplomatic ties, to show the gravity of the situation.”

The U.S. designation, announced amid heightened tensions following Trump’s remarks threatening action over the killing of Christians in Nigeria, has sparked heated debate across the country.