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

Key points

1. Urges Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, drop all charges, guarantee his safety and due process rights, and ensure adequate access to food, clothing and medical treatment.¶
2. Calls on the Supreme Court of Nigeria to ensure an expedited and fair appeals process and for the release of all others facing blasphemy allegations.
3. Recalls that blasphemy laws breach international human rights obligations, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and are contrary to the Nigerian Constitution.¶
4. Urges Nigerian authorities to uphold human rights by ensuring federal, state and Sharia laws do not deny protections afforded by the national constitution and international conventions.¶
5. Stresses Nigeria's responsibility to lead by example in abolishing blasphemy laws, including religious insult in criminal law, that endanger religious minorities, violate fundamental freedoms and fuel sectarian violence.
6. Urges Nigeria to impose a nationwide moratorium on executions and work towards fully abolishing the death penalty.¶
7. Urges the Nigerian Government to combat impunity by penalising purveyors of false allegations and bringing perpetrators of mob violence to justice.¶
8. Calls for the EU and its Member States to raise individual cases, human rights concerns and blasphemy laws with Nigerian authorities and to ensure diplomatic observation of legal proceedings at the Supreme Court.¶
9. Commends the acquittal of Rhoda Jatau and release of Mubarak Bala.