A 22-year-old Miss Zainab Muhamadu is reportedly facing the death penalty in Zamfara State on charges of converting to Christianity from her family’s Islamic religion.
Zainab’s journey of faith began when she encountered a Christian simply identified as Pastor Samuel, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member posted to her area.
Upon discovering her conversion, authorities arrested Zainab. She is now scheduled to stand trial this Friday in a Sharia Court — a move legal experts and human rights advocates are decrying as a gross violation of Nigeria’s constitutional right to religious freedom.
“This is not just a test of one woman’s faith. It’s a test of Nigeria’s soul —of whether we truly uphold the right to choose one’s faith,” said an Adamawa-based Human Rights lawyer, and urged Christian communities across Nigeria to mobilise prayers.
Legal teams are also exploring the possibility of transferring her case to a secular court, arguing that as a Christian, Zainab should not be subjected to Islamic jurisprudence.
Meanwhile, Pastor Samuel is reportedly under immense emotional and spiritual strain, with many calling for protection and support for him as well.
Apostasy (Arabic: riddah) refers to the act of a Muslim renouncing Islam—whether by converting to another religion, rejecting Islamic beliefs, or ceasing to practice the faith.
Under classical Islamic jurisprudence, apostasy has traditionally been treated as a capital offence, based on Hadith rather than the Qur’an.Travel guides
Many modern scholars argue that faith must be voluntary, and that punishing belief contradicts the essence of the Qur’an.
Still, apostasy laws remain enforced in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, though international human rights groups continue to challenge them.
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