On continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu
B-10-2025-0123
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: BertJan Ruissen, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Ondřej Krutílek, Veronika Vrecionová, Bogdan Rzońca, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Michał Dworczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Assita Kanko, Alexandr Vondra, Alberico Gambino
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The resolution urges Nigeria to release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and others detained on blasphemy charges, and to repeal blasphemy laws, which violate international human rights and the Nigerian Constitution.¶¶¶ It also calls on Nigeria to end the death penalty for blasphemy, combat impunity, and asks the EU and its member states to raise these concerns with Nigerian authorities.¶¶¶
Key points
- Urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, drop all charges, and guarantee his safety and due process rights.¶
- Calls for the release of Abdulazeez Inyass, Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, Isma’ila Sani Isah, and any others facing blasphemy allegations.
- Recalls that blasphemy laws breach international human rights obligations, particularly the ICCPR, and are contrary to the Nigerian Constitution's guarantees of religious freedom and expression.¶
- Urges Nigerian authorities to ensure federal, state, and Sharia law do not deny protection under the national Constitution and international conventions, and to repeal blasphemy laws at all levels.¶
- Urges Nigeria to immediately withdraw the use of capital punishment for blasphemy and take steps towards full abolition of the death penalty.¶
- Urges the Nigerian government to combat impunity by penalising purveyors of false allegations and bringing perpetrators of violence to justice.¶
- 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 other individuals detained on blasphemy charges in Nigeria, including Abdulazeez Inyass, Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, and Isma’ila Sani Isah.¶¶¶
- Nigerian authorities, who are urged to release detainees, repeal blasphemy laws, and end the death penalty for blasphemy.¶¶
- The EU and its member states, called on to raise human rights concerns with Nigerian authorities.¶
Figures and deadlines
- Since March 2020: Yahaya Sharif-Aminu has been detained on blasphemy charges.¶
- 10 August 2020: Sharif-Aminu sentenced to death by hanging in Kano State.¶
- 21 January 2021: conviction overturned, retrial ordered.
- 17 August 2022: Court of Appeal upheld retrial order.
- November 2022: Sharif-Aminu appealed to Supreme Court.
- 30 August 2024: UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for his release.¶
- January 2016: Abdulazeez Inyass sentenced to death in Kano State.¶
- 15 December 2022: Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara sentenced to death in Kano State.