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At the hearing, Muslim leaders insisted that Shari'ah was a non-negotiable demand.

Aliyu Umar, a Muslim legal practitioner representing the Kano state house of assembly—the state parliament—and the Nigerian Muslim Lawyers Forum, said that Muslims wanted the constitution amended to allow states where either Islam or Christianity had a clear majority to adopt a state religion.

He also called for section 38(1), which deals with the issue of freedom of thought, conscience and belief, to be "expunged from the constitution."

Awwal Yadudu, the former legal adviser to the military government that drew up the 1999 constitution, said that the demand by Nigerian Muslims for the entrenchment of Islam in northern Nigeria, was in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

"There is an overwhelming expression of the need for Muslims to govern their lives according to Sharia," said Yadudu, who is also a professor of law at Bayero university, Kano.

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

On July 9, Muslim fundamentalists allegedly killed 10 people. CAN has accused the governor of masterminding the acts.

AFP reported that dozens were killed and thousands forced to flee Tafawa Balewa in June over the Shari'ah clashes.

BBC News has analyzed the grip of Shari'ah on Nigeria, severe punishments which have resulted for minor crimes, and the defiance of Nigerian states.

The Guardian covered CAN's calls against the former Head of State's call to not vote for Christians. This Day covered CAN's accusations of a state governor taking sides with the Muslims.

Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, blames the recent religious crisis in Nigeria on America, reported The Guardian.

According to The Day in Lagos, Nigerian government meetings in early June were held to find a peaceful balance in introducing Shari'ah law

The government has reservations about religious youth groups taking the law into their own hands, reported The Guardian.

Christians in the northern Nigeria state of Borno vow to disobey Shari'ah law, according to the U.N. Integrated Regional Information Network. The Guardian reported the Christian Association of Nigeria also threatened to sue.

As Shari'ah is adopted in Nigeria, hotels and brothels close up shop, according to The Guardian.

The Post Express reports The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria plans legal action against states operating by Shari'ah law.

In 1999, the New York Times reported as the first Nigerian state turns to the Shari'ah law."

For more articles, see Yahoo's full coverage on Nigeria.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of religious tensions in Nigeria includes:

Nigeria Officials Press Northern Governors to Scale Back Islamic Law | Churches harassed by Islamic youths purporting to enforce the law. (June 14, 2001)

Five Anglicans in Court After Rescuing Teenagers From Arranged Marriages | Priests claim Christian sisters are being forced into Islam. (June 5, 2001)

The Shari'ah Threat | Muslim Fundamentalist law troubles Christians and some Muslims. (Feb. 2, 2001)

'Focused, Determined, Deliberate' Destruction | Ecumenical leader calls on Nigeria to deal with religious violence between Muslims and Christians. (Oct. 30, 2000)

Nigerian Muslims and Christians Form a Religious Council | Gombe, a north Nigerian state, creates a council of faiths to deal with fears over Islamic law. (Sept. 19, 2000)

Churches Challenge Islamic Law | Christians plan to take Shari'ah to court. (Aug. 15, 2000)

Is Nigeria Moving Toward War? | Deadly riots lead to suspension of Islamic law. (March 31, 2000)

Nigeria On the Brink of Religious War | Northern states adopt Islamic law, increasing Christian-Muslim tensions. (Dec. 16, 1999)

Nigeria's Churches Considering Legal Challenge to Islamic Laws | Third state moving toward implementing Koranic laws (Dec. 17, 1999)

Can Christianity and Islam Coexist and Prosper in Africa? Twice in a decade religious fighting killed hundreds in West Africa's oldest city. (Oct. 25, 1999)

Nigeria's Christian President Calls for 'Moral Rearmament' Constitution rewritten to pledge freedom of belief is absolute. (April 26, 1999)

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July (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45