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

B100113/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the continuing detention and risk of death penalty for individuals in Nigeria based on blasphemy charge, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

(2025/2548(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Rule 150 (5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas in 2020 Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging for sharing song lyrics on WhatsApp that were deemed blasphemous toward the prophet Mohammed; whereas Sharif-Aminu has appealed his case to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenging the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws;

B. whereas particularly Christians continue to be targeted by Islamist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa Province), Fulani militants and other armed bandit groups;

C. whereas Nigeria’s population is forecast to grow to 377 million people by 2050, overtaking the United States (US) to become the world’s third most populated country; whereas this demographic explosion will continue to fuel the mass migration of especially young Nigerians to the EU; whereas in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, Nigeria is the first country of illegal migration towards Europe; whereas in September 2024, the European Court of Auditors criticised the 5 billion Euro EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa for not concentrating enough on the priorities to tackle the root causes of illegal migration;

1. Takes note of the constitutionality challenge of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu against the Sharia-based blasphemy laws in Nigeria;

2. Considers that it is not consistent to advocate for Yahaya’s freedom while simultaneously

applauding and supporting “hate speech” laws that are, in fact, a secular equivalent to blasphemy laws; rejects, in this regard, the Commission’s proposal to extend the list of EU crimes in Article 83 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to include hate speech;

3. Encourages Nigeria to address the root causes of illegal migration and calls on the EU and Nigeria to step up cooperation to combat illegal migration through intelligence sharing, joint law enforcement efforts and support for repatriation programs;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice- President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and

Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments

of the Member States and the President, government and parliament of Nigeria.