Abstract
The primary purpose of every law is to enhance law and dignity of man in the society. Every law must meet certain threshold of acceptable
human standard for it to be recognized as a benchmark for regulating human conducts and behaviours. Accordingly, there are several
international human rights laws coupled with the various constitutions of the nation that laid down the basic expectation of every law. It is
against this backdrop that this dissertation appraised the Zamfara State Sharia Penal Code Law, 2000 with a view to ascertain the level of its conformity with the Nigerian Constitution and the International Human Rights norms. In the course of this dissertation, other jurisdictions on Islamic views on severe and harsh punishment against human rights
principle were also looked into vis-à-vis, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Zamfara State Sharia Penal Code Law, 2000. The doctrinal method of research was adopted derived from primary and secondary sources. It is the finding of this dissertation that sections in the Zamfara State Sharia Penal Code Laws, 2000 goes contrary with provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and offends the dignity of
persons section 34, it appears too complex and rigid compare to the Sharia Penal Code Law of Kano State. The Hisbah who are the state
police in Zamfara State are not discharging their duties in line with the 1999 Constitution section 36 (12). The aim of this dissertation is to appraise and xray the Zamfara State Sharia Penal Coe Laws, 2000 with a view to expose the punishments that are harsh and offends Human
Rights Laws and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and International Best Practices. We find out in
the cause of this dissertation that some section in the Zamafara State Sharia Penal Code Laws 2000 are harsh and the criminal proceeding
offends section 36(12) and therefore be amended.
