The Kano State Government has defended its blasphemy laws against a verdict by the ECOWAS Court of Justice, asserting the constitutional right to uphold religious sanctity within its jurisdiction.
In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, said Kano remained unyielding, citing its legal authority to protect the values and beliefs of its predominantly Muslim population.
He said the state will not be deterred by external pressures as the government’s responsibility is to uphold the values of the society, which are grounded in religious and moral beliefs.
He said while international opinions are respected, the state laws are a reflection of the people’s will.
According to Waiya, the Kano government’s defence is rooted in Nigeria’s federal system, where states retain the right to enact laws reflecting local social, moral, and religious contexts.
