Muslim leaders in northern Nigeria condemned the honorary...

Muslim leaders in northern Nigeria condemned the honorary citizenship conferred on Safiya Hussaini by the Rome city council, and accused Italian leaders of seeking to convert her to Christianity. Two of the 12 state governors who brought Islamic law to northern Nigeria said they tried to prevent Hussaini from receiving it. Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa said the immigration authorities granted his request to refuse her a passport but that the Women's Affairs Ministry sent a delegation to Hussaini's village to give her one. Governor Ahmad Sani, of Zamfara state, said: "Our fear is that Safiya and her daughter will be converted to Christianity, which we believe is the intent of the invitation," he said. The Nigerian federal government regards the application of Sharia law as unconstitutional, but has so far not acted against its use.