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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2548(RSP))

On continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

B-10-2025-0111

on behalf of the PfE Group · Rapporteur: Susanna Ceccardi, Nikola Bartůšek

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution concerns the detention and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in Nigeria for blasphemy. It urges Nigerian authorities to release him, drop charges, and repeal blasphemy laws, and calls on the EU to raise the issue.

Key points

  1. Urges Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, drop all charges, and guarantee due process rights for him and others facing blasphemy allegations.
  2. Recalls that blasphemy laws breach international human rights obligations, particularly the ICCPR, and the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression.
  3. Urges Nigerian authorities to uphold human rights and religious liberty by ensuring federal and state law do not deny Nigerians protection under the national Constitution and international conventions.
  4. Stresses that Nigeria's influence in Africa and the Muslim world makes this case an opportunity to address Islamic fundamentalist backsliding in the region.
  5. Urges the Nigerian Government to tackle impunity around blasphemy accusations and to repeal blasphemy laws at federal and state level.
  6. Recalls international efforts against terrorist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, and urges Nigeria to act against their attacks.
  7. Calls on the EU and its Member States to raise individual cases, human rights concerns, and blasphemy laws with Nigerian authorities.

Who is affected

  • Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and others in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, who would be released and have charges dropped.
  • Nigerian authorities and government, who are urged to release detainees, repeal laws, and act against terrorism.
  • EU and its Member States, called on to raise human rights concerns with Nigeria.

Figures and deadlines

  • 10 August 2020: date of trial and death sentence.
  • 21 January 2021: date of retrial order.
  • 17 August 2022: date of Court of Appeal ruling.
  • November 2022: date of appeal to Supreme Court.