The northern Nigerian state of Zamfara has introduced a new package of Islamic, or Sharia, laws. All businesses in the state will have to shut down during the five daily Muslim prayers. The state government also says that all "unauthorised" places of worship will be shut down under "Sharia phase two".
| That would be any non-islamic place of worship. |
Zamfara was the first Nigerian state to introduce strict Sharia laws in 2000 and thousands turned out to welcome the new measures on Wednesday. The BBC's Yusuf Sarki Muhammad in the state capital, Gusau, says it is not clear whether churches will be targeted for closure under the new measures.
| Ah, good old Yusuf Muhammad of the BBC, unbiased as ever. |
He says there are many unauthorised places of worship in Zamfara, as elsewhere in Nigeria.
| "Buddist temples, Shinto shrines, Baptists, why we even got a altar to Zul!" |
Most other states in the predominantly Muslim northern Nigeria followed Zamfara by introducing Sharia laws. Thieves have had their hands amputated and several women have been sentenced to death by stoning for having extra-marital sex.
But no death sentences have yet been carried out.
The new laws led to clashes between Christians and Muslims, in which thousands of people died.
| And they say this isn't a Holy War. |
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