The Zamfara State Upper Shari’a Court, Gusau, has sentenced three women to five years imprisonment, for Desecrating the Holy Qur’an.
The Presiding Khadi, Garba Gusau, said the ruling was delivered, based on the evidence and witnesses presented before the court, and the inability of the accused persons and their counsel, to convince the court against the charges levelled against them.
The Khadi said, the three women, Rabi Bello, Hazira Bello and Hafsatu Isah, were convicted of three different offences, punishable under Sections 122, 123 and 287 of the Zamfara State Shari’a Penal Code, SPC.
The counsel to the accused persons, Barrister Jamilu Ashafa, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement, saying it is contrary to the Islamic legal system, as the five male witnesses presented before the Shari’a Court, are not sufficient to pronounce judgement, given the provisions of the Islamic shari’ah.
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It would be recalled that in 2019, there was an alleged report of dropping the Holy Qur’an in toilets and refuse dumps by some persons in Zamfara State, for ritual purposes.
The incident resulted in the suspension of school teachers where the Holy Qur’an was found in their toilet facility, and in the backyard of the school.
The five years, six months handed to the three women will serve as a deterrent to those who have been or intend to engage in similar acts in the state.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
