No one should be forced into Islam - Sultan of Sokoto

Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, says nobody should be forced to embrace Islam. 

The president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), added that Muslims should respect the rights and freedoms of people of other faiths. 

Abubakar spoke at the NSCIA general assembly at the National Mosque in Abuja.

“We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam,” he said.

"But we have seen how many people have been joining Islam on their own free will because Almighty Allah said there is no compulsion in religion.”

Sultan’s remarks come weeks after he urged Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to stop insulting one another, saying religious tolerance is essential to peaceful coexistence.

"We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims,” he said.

“Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we live in peace.”