The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned individuals and groups in the South West against infringing on the rights of Yoruba Muslim traditional rulers, particularly in matters concerning their faith, worship, and burial rites.
The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the call on Monday, October 27, 2025, stressing the need to respect the religious freedoms of traditional rulers who choose to live and die as Muslims.
Akintola noted that some Muslim monarchs had recently faced criticism for expressing their preference for Islamic practices, with detractors insisting they adhere strictly to traditional customs.
He, however, maintained that such demands amount to religious coercion and violate the constitutional rights of the affected rulers.
“Muslim traditional rulers have the right to follow their chosen faith. A Muslim king is often crowned as a Muslim, having professed Islam long before ascending the throne. Nothing changes his faith or identity,” Akintola said.
He emphasized that being a Muslim does not prevent a traditional ruler from serving people of all faiths with fairness and inclusivity, adding that delegating religious duties to others when necessary does not diminish their leadership role.
“But to insist that a Muslim king must live as a traditional worshipper or be buried as one is crossing the red line. It amounts to religious coercion,” he said. “Yoruba traditional worshippers have failed to show religious tolerance in this regard, as there have been several instances of forceful conversion at shrines, where the children of deceased traditionalists are compelled to accept traditional religion. It must stop.”
Akintola cited Section 38 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended in 2011), which guarantees freedom of religion, as the legal basis for his position, emphasising that the Constitution remains supreme throughout Nigeria, including Yorubaland.
He called for an immediate end to all forms of intimidation and threats aimed at compelling Muslim traditional rulers to abandon their faith, noting that every monarch retains the freedom to choose and practice their religion without interference.
