SOKOTO, Nigeria, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Nigeria's Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, bluntly told the U.S. ambassador that many U.S. foreign policies are "deliberately against Islam."
The Daily Trust reported that Maccido made his criticisms while receiving U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell at his palace. In particular Maccido specifically criticized Bush administration policies towards Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Maccido told Campbell that that Muslims throughout the world believe that "some decisions of the leading members of the international community are not balanced" and urged Campbell to convince his government to be evenhanded on issues in the Middle East.
In discussing the implementation of Islamic Sharia law in Nigeria, Maccido told Campbell that Muslim jurisprudence was "for Muslims only," adding that Nigeria's renewed emphasis on Sharia was essentially to address the moral decadence that has engulfed Nigerian society. Maccido told Campbell, "Sharia is an instrument for strengthening the moral fiber of society."
Washington is closely monitoring the rise of Islam in Nigeria as Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa and the 11th largest in the world.
