CLERIC REJECTS AMNESTY PANEL SPOT

KANO, Nigeria, 10 Jumadil Akhir 1434/19 April 2013 (MINA) – A Muslim cleric on Thursday (18/4) rejected his nomination by Nigeria’s president to a panel studying an amnesty offer to Islamist insurgents, saying he does not trust the government, Independent Online by quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Nigeria’s government is not sincere and will not honour any recommendations the amnesty committee will come up with,” Datti Ahmed told reporters.

He said the panel’s report could be subject to tampering.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday announced the 26-member panel charged with looking at how amnesty should be offered to Boko Haram, an group blamed for killing thousands since 2009.

Also Read: Only Hundreds of Worshipers Perform Isha Prayers at Haram and Nabawi Mosque

Jonathan had initially resisted the amnesty idea, but changed his position as pressure mounted, notably from leaders in the mainly Muslim north, the region hardest hit by insurgency.

Ahmed is a heads the Supreme Council of Sharia (Islamic law) in Nigeria. He was among several critics that Jonathan named to the panel, but it is not clear if his rejection of the offer will prove significant.

Shehu Sani, a prominent rights activist based in the north, rejected his own nomination late Wednesday, saying the authorities did not consult him before he was named.

It is unclear whether an amnesty offer would help reduce the violence, or whether members of the opposition group are open to the proposal.

Also Read: Muslims in Sri Lanka Attacked Despite Emergency Decree

In an audio recording sent to AFP last week, Boko Haram’s purported leader Abubakar Shekau, rejected the idea.

The Boko Haram insurgency is estimated to have left more than 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killing by the security services. (T/P09/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).