LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described a proposed United States sanctions bill against prominent Northern Nigerian figures as “lopsided, unjust, and selective.”
The reaction follows a move by five U.S. lawmakers to impose visa bans and asset freezes on the National Leader of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alongside leadership groups like Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, argued on Thursday, February 12, that the American legislative lens is dangerously narrow. He contended that for any sanction exercise to be “objective and transparent,” it must also target Southern Nigerian officials and North-Central “Christian militia” leaders accused of decades of anti-Muslim violence.
“We take the decision of the US Congress to sanction Muslims alone with a pinch of salt. It amounts to scapegoating, preconceived judgement and crusade-brandishing,” Akintola stated.
READ ALSO: Anthony Joshua Honors Late Friends With Heartbreaking “Lati Sina” Tattoo
The cleric suggested that the move undermines the U.S. Department of State’s role as a neutral arbiter of human rights. Also, the advocacy group alleged that the U.S. has been misled by a “conspiracy” of false genocide narratives against Christians while ignoring the systemic marginalization of Muslims in the South-West.
Akintola claimed that in states like Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun, Muslims are frequently denied basic rights, ranging from voter registration to public health access due to their religious attire.
“Muslims have become endangered species in Nigeria,” he warned, adding that the arrival of U.S. troops under the guise of protection creates a “palpable fear” of forced conversions and military-backed religious bias.
To avoid being seen as a “recycled crusade,” MURIC is demanding a comprehensive expansion of the sanctions list. The group insists that U.S. searchlights must beam on Southern governors who defy court judgements regarding the hijab and those who weaponize the education and health sectors against Muslim citizens.
Akintola emphasized that the United Nations and the global community must recognize that religious extremism exists across both faiths, and punishing only one side violates the fundamental principle of audi alteram partem—hearing the other side.
