Amnesty International has called on the authorities of Kano State of Nigeria to immediately reverse the conviction and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu sentenced to death by hanging on spurious charges of blasphemy by the Kano Upper Shari’a Court.
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a 22-year-old musician, had been charged with blasphemy in a series of messages he circulated.
Mr Sharif, a resident of Sharifai in Kano metropolis, was accused of committing blasphemy against the prophet of Islam in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020.
Following the incident, protesters burnt down the singer’s family home and led a procession to the Kano Hisbah command’s headquarters.
The Hisbah is a Kano State-owned security outfit that enforces the Shariah law in the highly conservative state.
He was sentenced to death by hanging by the Kano Upper Shari’a Court in Hausawa Filin Hockey area of the state.
The judge, Aliyu Kani, said he found Sharif guilty as charged and convicted him based on Section 382 (b) of the Kano Penal Code of 2000.
In tweets by the human rights body read “The authorities of Kano State must immediately quash the conviction and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif Aminu, who was sentenced to death by hanging on spurious charges of blasphemy by the Kano Upper Shari’a Court.
“#Kano blasphemy sentence is a travesty of justice. There are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial; and the framing of the charges against him based on Whatsapp messages. The imposition of the death penalty following an unfair trial violates the right to life.”
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people, who take injustice personally.
The authorities of Kano State must immediately quash the conviction and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif Aminu, who was sentenced to death by hanging on spurious charges of blasphemy by the Kano Upper Shari’a Court. #Nigeria
#Kano blasphemy sentence is a travesty of justice. There are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial; and the framing of the charges against him based on Whatsapp messages. The imposition of the death penalty following an unfair trial violates the right to life.
2:32 PM· Aug 13, 2020
