A human rights group, Concerned Nigerians, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari as well as Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State to intervene in the sentencing of a musician to death for blasphemy by a Sharia Court.
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Kano State musician was sentenced to death by a Sharia court in Kano for blasphemy by insulting the Prophet in song which he circulated via Whatsapp. The musician did not deny the charge but was given 30 days to appeal the sentencing for blasphemy.
The news of the death sentence incited Nigerians who called out the Kano state government and the Sharia court for issuing such a sentence.
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In their appeal, Concerned Nigerians pointed out that the sentencing was repulsive to natural justice, equity and good conscience. The group also noted that the 1999 Constitution forbids religious policing and the establishment of a state religion.
Excerpts from the letter to Ganduje read;
“We write to request your intervention on the sentencing of a Kano Based musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu to death by a Shariah Court for blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed. The judgment is repulsive to natural justice, equity and good conscience. Our constitution forbids religious policing in section 10, which prohibits the practice of a State Religion in any part of Nigeria, and section 38 also guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, including freedom to change religion and belief.
We urgently appeal to you in line with the provision of section 212 of the constitution to grant pardon to the victim of this great injustice.”
Excerpts from the letter written to President Buhari read;
“We write to request your intervention on the sentencing of a Kano Based musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu to death by a Shariah Court for blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed.
“The judgment is repulsive to natural justice, equity and good conscience. Our constitution forbids religious policing in section 10, which prohibits the practice of u State Religion in any part of Nigeria, and section 38 guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, including freedom to change religion and belief.
“We urgently appeal to you to prevail on the Kano State Government to grant the victim of this great injustice a pardon as his life is under serious danger at the Kano Central prison. We are in touch with the victim and can confirm he is kept under the worst possible conditions.”
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