Shari'a, Family, and Democracy

Project Description

“Sharia, Family and Democracy“ examines how Western democracies with Muslim minorities can have a productive conversation with Muslim countries that implemented Shari’a, particularly on issues of marriage and family law. The project's core question is whether there can be a responsible jurisdictional pluralism of religious and legal norms in domestic relations that respects both the religious freedom concerns of religious communities and rule of law concerns of the state.

With its nearly even division between Muslims and Christians and the implementation of Shari’a in the Northern States beginning in 1999, Nigeria has become a focal point for these debates.  A diverse group of scholars in law, religion, and the social sciences from around the world will examine the possibilities for a peaceful reconciliation to the ongoing contestation over Shari’a in Nigeria in the area of family law -- and the lessons that Shari’a in Nigeria may hold for other nations and legal systems. 

Project Blog

As events unfold in and around Nigeria’s current election cycle and in global debates over juridical pluralism and the family, follow and join the discussion at the project blog at http://blogs.law.emory.edu/nigeriasharia/

Sponsors

Social Science Research Council

Directors

• Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im
• M Christian Green
• John Witte, Jr.

Project Publications