The Amnesty International (AI) has called on the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje to immediately secure the release of Singer, Yahaya Sharif Aminu from being sentenced to death.
Recall that Yahaya Sharif was sentence to death by the Sharia Courts in Kano for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a song he circulated on the messaging platform WhatsApp in March.
This court has periodically handed down death sentences, including for blasphemy, though these rulings are rarely carried out.
However, Amnesty International via its official twitter handle on Thursday urged the Nigerian government to overturn Sharif-Aminu’s death sentence and repeal blasphemy laws still present in state-sponsored courts.”
“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.”
