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Amnesty International Calls For Immediate Release Of Sharif-Aminu, Nigerian Musician Sentenced To Death For Blasphemy

FILE
May 19, 2023

The organisation made this known in a statement posted on its verified Twitter handle on Friday, in which it called on the Federal Government to drop all charges against Sharif-Aminu.

Amnesty International Nigeria (AIN) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 after being convicted of blasphemy.

 

The organisation made this known in a statement posted on its verified Twitter handle on Friday, in which it called on the Federal Government to drop all charges against Sharif-Aminu.

According to the organisation, the blasphemy sentence is a travesty of justice.

 

The organisation also noted that there are serious concerns about the fairness of his trial; and the framing of the charges against him based on WhatsApp messages.

 

Amnesty noted that the imposition of the death penalty following an unfair trial violates the right to life.

 

"The Nigerian authorities @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo must drop all charges against Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.

 

"He must be released immediately and unconditionally. The blasphemy sentence is a travesty of justice.

 

"Also, 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," the statement added.

 

https://twitter.com/AmnestyNigeria/status/1659329120810029063?t=LA3OEMRUUfOFUzk2HSSwCw&s=19

 

SaharaReporters had reported that Sharif-Aminu had approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria to challenge his conviction.

 

This was seen in court documents filed by his counsel, Kola Alapinni Esq, which were obtained by SaharaReporters.

 

According to the documents, Sharif-Aminu is asking the apex court to declare that the offence of blasphemy is not recognised in Nigerian law.

 

The death sentence was passed on Sharif-Aminu by a Sharia court, which a high court overturned. It, however, denied the musician bail and ordered his re-trial before another Sharia court judge due to irregularities in the original trial.

 

The musician approached the appeal court to overturn the order for his retrial for blasphemy. His lawyer argued that he ought to be removed from detention.

 

But the appellate court did not rule in his favour.