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November 28, 2002

  The Supreme Islamic Council of Nigeria proclaimed that a fatwa cannot be used against a non-Moslems. This dispute is all about the Christian journalist who wrote the story (about the Prophet Mohammed wanting to marry a beauty contest participant). Moslem politicians and Islamic radicals proclaimed this an insult to all Moslems and conjured up riots that killed over 200. The journalist has fled Nigeria since the fatwa was issued and taken refuge in the United States. The Supreme Islamic Council is acting to head off more religious violence, for Nigerian Christians get very upset at any talk of them being subject to Islamic law. The Council is also upset at a politician (the governor of Zamfara state) issuing fatwas.