DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

Nigerian Religious Leaders Sign Interfaith Peace Accord in Abuja

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Over 50 Muslim and Christian leaders in Nigeria signed an interfaith peace accord in Abuja to establish a new body promoting religious harmony.
  • The initiative aims to counter divisive rhetoric and foster cooperation between the country's major religious groups.
  • The accord follows recent heightened focus on religious divides, partly due to comments by US President Donald Trump.

More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders have signed an interfaith peace accord in Abuja, Nigeria, launching a new body dedicated to promoting religious harmony across the nation. The agreement was signed at a conference on diversity and social peace, organized by the Saudi Arabia-based Islamic non-governmental organization, the Muslim World League.

We do not deny that extremist ideas have harmed everyone; all have been affected by it.

— Mohammad Al-IssaMuslim World League Secretary-General, on the enthusiasm for the new peace initiative.

Nigeria's population of over 200 million is split roughly evenly between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. The accord aims to foster cooperation and curb divisive rhetoric, particularly in light of past tensions. Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammad Al-Issa expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "We do not deny that extremist ideas have harmed everyone; all have been affected by it."

Christian and Muslim leaders described the pact as a turning point. John Praise Daniel, chairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders' Assembly, voiced hope that the accord would limit hate speech and disrespect among clerics. Khalid Abubakar, secretary-general of Jama'atu Nasri Islam, emphasized the pact's focus on cooperation, stating, "It is not a call to leave your own religion, but a cooperation of working together in harmony."

No hate speech, and no disrespect for other religious groups, no calling of people as infidels.

— John Praise DanielChairman of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders' Assembly, expressing hope for the accord's impact.

The initiative comes after a period where the religious divide in Nigeria received heightened international attention. US President Donald Trump previously called Nigeria a "disgraced country" and threatened military action over the treatment of Christians by "Islamic Terrorists." While Islamist insurgents like Boko Haram and ISWAP have caused widespread havoc, their attacks have primarily affected the Muslim northeast, with both Muslims and Christians falling victim to violence.

It is not a call to leave your own religion, but a cooperation of working together in harmony.

— Khalid AbubakarSecretary-general of Jama'atu Nasri Islam, explaining the nature of the cooperation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog