Nigerian court blocks arrest of Christian convert over faith and marriage refusal

A Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled against authorities in Kano State and the Hisbah, an Islamic religious enforcement body, preventing them from arresting a 22-year-old woman over her conversion to Christianity and her refusal of a forced marriage.

The woman, identified by the pseudonym ‘Sarah’, reportedly fled her family home in 2025 to escape abuse and an attempted forced marriage by her siblings. After seeking refuge with a Christian family and converting to Christianity, she was detained for four days by Hisbah officials, during which she alleged she was beaten and pressured to accept the marriage.

In its May 26 ruling, the court characterized the actions taken against her as a ‘flagrant violation’ of her fundamental rights to human dignity and freedom of religion. The court has ordered that she receive financial compensation.