§ Lord Moynihanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Nigerian Government to express their concern that the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State in Nigeria has issued a fatwa against the journalist Ms Daniel, following her report linking the Prophet Mohammed to the Miss World beauty contest in the publication This Day. [HL447]
§ Baroness AmosWe deplore the issuing of a fatwa against Isioma Daniel. Such action is a clear violation52WA of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria acceeded in 1993.
With our EU partners, we have made clear our concern privately to the relevant authorities.
The Nigerian Government immediately made clear that the fatwa is null and void. Moderate Muslim leaders distanced themselves from it. On 28 November, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria (SCIA) rejected the fatwa on the grounds that Ms Daniel was not a Muslim and had apologised.
The Nigerian federal authorities are fully aware of their obligations under the international human rights instruments to which they are a signatory and the damage this illegal fatwa could do to their international reputation.