Supreme Court To Hear Appeal Of Kano Musician Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy

The Supreme Court of Nigeria is set to hear the appeal of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a young Sufi musician sentenced to death in 2020 by a Sharia court in Kano State over alleged blasphemy. The hearing is scheduled for September 25.

Sharif-Aminu’s conviction stemmed from a song he shared on WhatsApp, which some individuals in his community deemed blasphemous. His arrest triggered violent reactions, including the burning of his family home by a mob.

The death sentence sparked strong criticism from local and international human rights organizations, who described Nigeria’s blasphemy laws as repressive and inconsistent with basic freedoms.

According to Daily Post, In 2021, the Kano State High Court overturned the initial judgment, noting that Sharif-Aminu had not been provided legal representation during the Sharia court trial. However, the court ordered a retrial, a decision that left him facing the death penalty once again.

The Court of Appeal later upheld the retrial ruling in 2022, prompting Sharif-Aminu’s legal team to take the matter before the Supreme Court.

International advocacy organization ADF International is now backing his defense, arguing that the case offers Nigeria an opportunity to abolish blasphemy laws in the northern region. The group maintains that Sharif-Aminu’s prosecution contradicts Nigeria’s constitution and breaches its international human rights obligations.

The case has continued to draw global concern. The European Parliament has passed multiple resolutions calling for his release, while the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has classified his imprisonment as unlawful under international law.

Nigeria remains one of only seven countries in the world where blasphemy carries a death sentence.

Observers say a Supreme Court ruling in favor of Sharif-Aminu could create a landmark precedent, reshaping the country’s stance on religious freedom and determining the future of blasphemy laws across the nation.

Source: Informationng