A 22-year-old woman, Zainab Muhamadu, is set to stand trial in a Sharia Court in Zamfara State on charges related to her alleged conversion from Islam to Christianity.
According to reports by Sahara Reporters, family sources revealed that Zainab’s only offense was choosing to adopt the Christian faith after being introduced to it by Pastor Samuel, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in her local area.
Zainab’s interaction with Pastor Samuel reportedly sparked her interest in Christianity, ultimately leading to her conversion. However, her change of faith drew the attention of local authorities, resulting in her arrest and scheduled court appearance this Friday.
The case has sparked outrage among legal experts and human rights advocates, who have described the move as a blatant violation of Nigeria’s constitutional right to freedom of religion.
“This is not just a test of one woman’s faith,” said a human rights lawyer based in Adamawa. “It’s a test of Nigeria’s soul — of whether we truly uphold the right to choose one’s faith.”
Concerns have also been raised about Zainab’s right to a fair trial, with calls growing for legal and civil society intervention. Christian communities across the country are being urged to engage in prayer and advocacy on her behalf.
Some lawyers are reportedly working to have her case moved from the Sharia Court to a secular court, arguing that as a Christian, Zainab should not be tried under Islamic law.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Zamfara State authorities regarding the legality or human rights implications of the upcoming trial.