Controversy as Cleric Defends Death Penalty for Those Who Change Religion

A prominent Islamic cleric and National Chairman of the Council of Ulama, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, has sparked intense debate across Nigeria’s religious and human rights communities after publicly endorsing the death penalty for individuals who renounce Islam.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Thursday, Jalingo cited Islamic texts in defense of the controversial Hadith: “Whoever changes his religion, kill him.” He argued that the Hadith is divinely revealed and does not contradict the Qur’an, as claimed by some critics.

“Today, I came across the first Hadith among the supposed ‘100 Hadiths’ which the fabricators claim contradict the Qur’an… This will, God willing, give me the opportunity to expose his ignorance to the world,” he wrote, referencing a challenge posed by a man identified as Issiyaku Abdulkadir.

Jalingo dismissed widespread interpretations of Qur’anic verses promoting religious freedom, particularly Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 256: “There is no compulsion in religion,” claiming the verse had been abrogated by more combative verses.

He backed his stance by citing Surah At-Tawbah, Surah Al-Baqarah, and Surah An-Nisa’, arguing that Islamic scripture mandates capital punishment for apostates and warfare against polytheists under certain conditions.

“The Qur’an is a revelation from Allah, and so is the Hadith… Often, the Qur’an addresses matters briefly, and the Hadith comes to elaborate on them,” he said, asserting that both texts are equal in divine authority.

In a particularly inflammatory portion of the statement, Jalingo lashed out at his critics, referring to them as “prostitutes and effeminate men” for challenging the Hadith and traditional interpretations.

The post has since gone viral, drawing sharp condemnation from human rights advocates and progressive Muslim scholars, while earning praise from hardline adherents who viewed his comments as a bold defense of orthodox Islam.

Legal experts have warned that such rhetoric may incite violence and deepen sectarian divides, especially in a religiously diverse nation like Nigeria. Calls for regulatory and interfaith bodies to respond are growing.