Zamfara woman faces sharia trial for conversion to christianity

A 22-year-old woman, Zainab Muhamadu, is set to stand trial before a Sharia Court in Zamfara State following allegations that she converted from Islam to Christianity.

According to her relatives,  Zainab’s only “offense” was embracing Christianity, a decision she made after meeting a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Pastor Samuel, who was posted to her community.

He reportedly shared his faith with her, which led to her conversion.

Her arrest by local authorities has sparked outrage among legal experts and human rights advocates, who argue that prosecuting Zainab under Sharia law violates her constitutional right to freedom of religion — a right protected under Nigerian law.

“This is not just about one person’s faith,” said a human rights lawyer from Adamawa. “It’s about whether Nigeria truly respects the right to choose one’s religion.”

Concerns have been raised about the possibility of an unfair trial, with calls mounting for urgent intervention from civil society and religious groups.

Christian communities across the country have been urged to pray and advocate on her behalf.

Meanwhile, legal teams are exploring the possibility of transferring her case to a secular court, arguing that Zainab, now identifying as a Christian, should not be tried under Islamic law.
The Star