A senior Nigerian Islamic cleric has ignited a firestorm of controversy after expressing support for the death penalty for Muslims who renounce their faith.
The statement, which quickly went viral, has drawn condemnation from civil society groups, human rights advocates, and fellow Islamic scholars, who labeled the remarks as inflammatory and a threat to religious freedom.
Sheikh Ibrahim Jalingo, who serves as the National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, made the provocative declaration via Facebook on Thursday, April 10.
In his post, he defended a contentious Hadith that prescribes capital punishment for apostates.
“Whoever changes his religion, kill him,” Jalingo quoted, maintaining that the narration is rooted in Islamic principles and supported by Qur’anic teachings.
He took aim at critics who challenged the authenticity of the Hadith, branding them as lacking knowledge of Islamic doctrine.
“The Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, and so is the Hadith,” Jalingo wrote. “Often, the Qur’an addresses matters briefly, while the Hadith comes to elaborate. This Hadith does not contradict the Qur’an, it reinforces it.”
To substantiate his stance, Jalingo pointed to multiple Qur’anic verses, including Surah At-Tawbah (9:5), Al-Baqarah (2:193), and An-Nisa’ (4:89 and 4:91), arguing that they support severe punishment—including death—for apostasy and polytheism under certain conditions.
Responding to critics who referenced Qur’an 2:256, “There is no compulsion in religion,” Jalingo argued that the verse had been superseded by later revelations advocating stricter measures against disbelief.
His post further stirred outrage with derogatory language, in which he branded his opponents as “prostitutes and effeminate men,” while commending his followers for defending what he called the essence of “true” Islam.
The comments have sparked a flurry of criticism, with some clerics and rights groups warning that such rhetoric could fuel intolerance and incite violence.
“This rhetoric threatens religious freedom and incites violence,” said a prominent northern cleric who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.
Amid the growing backlash, calls are mounting for authorities to probe the statement for potentially promoting hatred and extremist views.
