Release International

Release International condemns religious apartheid and calls for an end to discriminatory Islamic law

In a further heightening of religious tensions in Nigeria, moves have begun to evict 15 church organisations based in a major Christian complex in Kano State.

The churches - including Anglicans, Catholics, Assemblies of God and the United Evangelical Church - made their base in a former police academy 30 years ago after police training was relocated.

The Christian organisations had been denied permission to build in the city, so moved into the abandoned and run-down police college on an industrial estate and renovated the buildings for use as worship centres.

For three decades they were allowed to remain in the government buildings and the complex became one of the most celebrated centres for Christian worship in Kano.

But Kano is one of 12 northern states to adopt strict Islamic law - with disastrous consequences for Christians.

In the move to impose Shari’a law across Nigeria's northern states terror tactics have been used. Extremists have stirred up religious tensions and brought in armed mercenaries from Chad and Niger to drive out Christians. Their aim has been to create a Muslim majority that will vote in favour of Shari’a.

Plateau State has been worst affected by the violence. Almost 54,000 have been killed, according to the latest government estimates. More than 30,000 Christians have been displaced and the government was forced to impose a state of emergency for six months.

A further 69,000 people were driven from their homes in Kano and Yelwa, and the conflict, which began in 2000, has spread to most of Nigeria's 19 northern states.

In recent riots militants destroyed every church building in Kano city, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Now an eviction notice has been served on Christian organisations based at the former police academy site in the industrial area of Panshakara and Chalawa. The justification given has been a dispute over ownership of the land. The churches say it belongs to the government, who have permitted them to be there, but the authorities say the land belongs to an individual, who wants it back.

Release International, which serves the persecuted church in 30 nations, believes the action is discriminatory and is a further step on the way towards eliminating the remaining Christian presence in the northern states.

Church leaders in northern Nigeria have appealed to the country's president to put an end to Shari’a law. They say the law has been abused to prevent Christians from building any new churches or owning land, and has resulted in many existing church buildings being torn down. At the same time hundreds of new mosques are springing up, for which no government approval is necessary.

'What we are witnessing is religious cleansing – an attempt by extremists to enforce religious apartheid,’ says Eddie Lyle, the chief executive of Release International. 'First Christians are driven out by Islamist fighters so Shari’a law can be imposed. When that happens, the law is abused and distorted to close down churches and eliminate Christianity.

‘We are witnessing a tearing apart that will continue until the government ends discrimination by abolishing these unjust Shari’a laws. Nigeria must act quickly before this nation is torn in two. Time is running out.'

Nigeria's population of around 140 million is split between the predominantly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south. Muslims make up around 50 per cent of the population and Christians 40 per cent.

Through its Nigerian partner, Release International (RI) has supported the families of pastors killed by militants and the families of persecuted Christians.

The 15 churches under notice to quit in Panshakara and Chalawa are:

1. Ekilisiyar Yanwa 'a Nigeria (EYN) 2. Mount Camel Ministries 3. Word of Faith Church 4. NKST Church 5. Deeper Life Church 6. Assembly of God Church 7. Christ Holy Church 8. Church of God Mission 9. United Evangelical Church 10. Gospel Faith Mission 11. Anglican Church 12. Prevailing Praying Ministry Church 13. The African Methodist Zion Church 14. ECWA Church 15. Catholic Church

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