Nigerian Receives 80 Lashes
LAGOS, Nigeria - An enthusiastic crowd of about 500 gathered to watch the
first man sentenced under Islamic law in the northern state of Zamfara receive
80 cane lashes, news reports said Saturday.
Bashiru Sule, who was accused of drinking alcohol in public, received his
punishment Thursday near the emir's palace in the state capital, Gusau, The
Guardian newspaper reported.

''It is a good day for Zamfara,'' declared Judge Ibrahim Abubakar Ruwondorawa,
who handed down the sentence.

Sule was allegedly caught drinking by members of a special force set up by
state Gov. Ahmed Sani to monitor observance of Sharia, or Islamic law.

Although Sani signed two bills on Jan. 27 making Zamfara the first Nigerian
state to adopt Sharia, some of its aspects were adopted months ago.

Women-only taxis have been operating in Zamfara since last year, and most
schools now separate boys and girls. Nearly all bars have been closed, and
almost every store has been forced to stop selling alcohol.

Zamfara state authorities have repeatedly assured the Christian community that
Sharia will only apply to Muslims. But they also have said schools and public
transportation eventually will be completely segregated by gender.

A number of other states in Nigeria's largely Muslim north are considering
following suit.

Nigeria, a country of 120 million people, is sharply divided along ethnic and
religious lines. Muslims and Christians each make up about one-third of
Nigeria's population.

                                   Associated Press. 
 

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