Nigerian state outlaws Abdul Qadir Jilani commemoration

By: Mohamed Ali

KANO, Nigeria: The police of Nigeria have banned an annual religious procession by Muslims in the northern city of Kano on the appeal of Christian leaders.

The march on Saturday by the Qadiriyya Sufi Muslims has been held annually for 59 years to commemorate the birthday of founder of their order Abdul Qadir Jilani, who lived in Iraq in the 11th century.

Religious tensions have been high in Nigeria since the massacre of hundreds of Muslims in the central Plateau State in May at the hands of Christians.

Nigeria's population of some 130 million is almost evenly split between Christians and Muslims. Kano is predominantly Muslim but there is a small Christian community.

On Saturday, Nigerian police fired teargas to disperse Muslims in Kano who defied the ban, a police spokesman said.

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