P
ProfRem
Guest
As the controversy over the proposed religious bill sent to the Kaduna State House of Assembly by the executive rages, there have been mixed feelings.
Here are some basic things you need to know about the proposed bill...
- The bill, which is an amendment of a 1984 edict on public preaching, is titled: “A bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State religious preaching law 1984.” It seeks to regulate preaching activities in the state.
- The proposed bill also seeks to establish committees to regulate the two major religions in the state: Christianity and Islam.
- The proposed bill requires that clerics wishing to preach should obtain permits from the state government. Such permits, valid for one year, are renewable, while a sponsored preacher shall be issued a permit for the period of the event.
- Playing of cassette in public place was barred by the bill, while playing of inciting media messages was also prohibited in the state.
“All cassettes, CDs, flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers may be played in the following places only:
(a) inside one’s house
(b) Inside entrance porch (Zaure)
(c) Inside the church
(d) Inside the mosque, and
(e) Any other designated place of worship
“Any cassette containing religious recording in which abusive language is used against any person or religious organization or religious leaders (past or present) is hereby prohibited in the state.”
- Violators of the bill shall:
“liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine of N200,000 or both and have his licence revoked.”
Other offences mentioned by the proposed bill include:
- preaches without a valid licence
- Plays religious cassette or uses a for religious purposes after 8pm in a public place
- Uses a loudspeaker for religious purposes other than inside a mosque or a church and the surrounding areas outside the stipulated prayer times
- Uses a loudspeaker in vehicles plying the streets with religious recording
- Abuses religious books
- Incites disturbance of the public peace
- Abuses or uses any derogatory term in describing any religion or, (h) Carries weapons of any description whether concealed or not in places of worship or to any other place with a view to causing religious disturbance shall be guilty of an offence.
Here are some basic things you need to know about the proposed bill...
- The bill, which is an amendment of a 1984 edict on public preaching, is titled: “A bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna State religious preaching law 1984.” It seeks to regulate preaching activities in the state.
- The proposed bill also seeks to establish committees to regulate the two major religions in the state: Christianity and Islam.
- The proposed bill requires that clerics wishing to preach should obtain permits from the state government. Such permits, valid for one year, are renewable, while a sponsored preacher shall be issued a permit for the period of the event.
- Playing of cassette in public place was barred by the bill, while playing of inciting media messages was also prohibited in the state.
“All cassettes, CDs, flash drives or any other communication gadgets containing religious recordings from accredited preachers may be played in the following places only:
(a) inside one’s house
(b) Inside entrance porch (Zaure)
(c) Inside the church
(d) Inside the mosque, and
(e) Any other designated place of worship
“Any cassette containing religious recording in which abusive language is used against any person or religious organization or religious leaders (past or present) is hereby prohibited in the state.”
- Violators of the bill shall:
“liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine of N200,000 or both and have his licence revoked.”
Other offences mentioned by the proposed bill include:
- preaches without a valid licence
- Plays religious cassette or uses a for religious purposes after 8pm in a public place
- Uses a loudspeaker for religious purposes other than inside a mosque or a church and the surrounding areas outside the stipulated prayer times
- Uses a loudspeaker in vehicles plying the streets with religious recording
- Abuses religious books
- Incites disturbance of the public peace
- Abuses or uses any derogatory term in describing any religion or, (h) Carries weapons of any description whether concealed or not in places of worship or to any other place with a view to causing religious disturbance shall be guilty of an offence.