• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • contact
    • privacy policy

Democracy Chronicles

Nigeria: Singer Sentenced to Death for ‘Blasphemy’

By DC Editors - August 11, 2020 Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetLinkedInPinShare1
Nigeria: Singer Sentenced to Death for 'Blasphemy'
Sabuwar Kofa – Kano City Gate – Image source

From VOA:

An Islamic court in northern Nigeria on Monday sentenced a singer to death for blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, judicial officials said.

An Upper Islamic Sharia court in the city of Kano ordered 22-year-old Yahaya Aminu Sharif to die by hanging for derogatory expressions against the Prophet in one of his songs, spokesman for the Kano region justice ministry, Baba-Jibo Ibrahim, told AFP.

Sharia courts in majority Muslim northern Nigeria have handed down death sentences for adultery, murder and homosexuality before but to date no executions have been carried out.

“The court handed down the death sentence as enshrined in Islamic laws based on irrefutable evidence and the convict’s admission of guilt,” Ibrahim said.

Sharif was accused of blaspheming the Prophet in a song he shared on social media in March, which caused riots in the city.

Mobs burnt the singer’s family home and took to the streets demanding his prosecution, leading to his arrest.

Ibrahim said Sharif had legal representation during the four-month trial, which was held behind closed doors for security reasons.

Sharif, a Muslim singer, belongs to a separate branch of Tijaniyya Sufi order, whose beliefs are considered heretical because of their different interpretation of some basic Islamic principles.

His conviction is the second death sentence to be passed for blasphemy since around a dozen states in the north reintroduced a stricter version of Sharia law in early 2000s, where Sharia courts run parallel to state and federal justice system.

Other blasphemy rulings

Abdul Nyass, a Sufi Muslim cleric, was sentenced to death in 2015 by a Kano Sharia court for blasphemy against the Prophet in his preachings.

Nyass drew public outrage when he made derogatory remarks against the Prophet before a gathering of disciples as they marked the birthday of the former leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order, Ibrahim Nyass.

Nyass is also a member of the Tijjaniyya Sufi order.

The same court on Monday sentenced a 13-year-old boy, Umar Farouk, to 10 years in prison with menial labor for blasphemy, judicial official Ibrahim said.

He said Farouk was found guilty of using foul language against God during an argument with a friend.

“The court considered the boy’s age as a minor and sentenced him to 10-year jail term as a penitence and to make him reform,” he said.

Both convicts have one month to appeal the sentences.

FacebookTweetLinkedInPinShare1

Filed Under: International Democracy Tagged With: Africa, Nigeria, Political Artwork, Political Dissidents, Religion and Democracy

About DC Editors

We are your source for news on the all important effort to establish and strengthen democracy across the globe. Our international team with dozens of independent authors are your gateway into the raging struggle for free and fair elections on every continent with a focus on election reform in the United States. See our Facebook Page and also follow us on Twitter @demchron.

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Syria Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Home | ALL NEWS | WORLD | Nigeria: Singer Sentenced to Death for ‘Blasphemy’

Primary Sidebar

donate button

An Expat American in the Middle East Discusses Trump Concerns

By Steve Schneider

Democracy Chronicles author Steve Schneider interviews ex-pat American Jason Meursault who shares his overseas perspective on the Capitol riot.

Why Trump Should be Impeached

By Jack Jones

Trump’s tenure was a reign of terror. The 6 Jan insurrection is ground for Senate impeachment to prevent him from causing further damage to our democracy.

democracy chronicles newsletter

DC AUTHORS

On Approval Voting and the National Popular Vote

By Steve Cobb

Though written without regard for alternative voting methods, maybe the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is OK.

Is Giuliani a Speech-Maker or a Criminal Instigator?

By Steve Schneider

Rudy Giuliani is Trump’s personal lawyer. He has spoken in two rallies that became criminal riots, including the Jan 6, 2021, mob attack on The Capitol.

Democracy Counts in Georgia; D.C. in Chaos

By Steve Schneider

Major upheavals in American politics saw democrats winning Georgia on Jan 5, 2021 while on Jan 6 a Trump mob attacked The Capitol to stop certification of Biden’s victory.

Why the Republican leadership doesn’t have our welfare in consideration

By Jack Jones

The fight against American corruption is not over! It will be when America’s Oligarchs come to realization. They need to be checked for all our sakes.

Atlanta Mail Specialist Exposed Voter Roll Purge List Problems 

By Steve Schneider

Voter suppression persists. A key direct mail specialist was able to analyse and reverse a questionable voter roll purge list in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Trump Proves Americans with “Good Genes” are Victims

By Steve Schneider

Trump has touted “good genes” and the privilege of bearing them. However, he is himself evidence that those carrying this imaginary genetic material are victims.

The Post-2020 Election Discourse on Police Abolition

By Erin Green

There is a difference between “defund and abolish”. It is up to each one of us to educate ourselves on why we must end police violence not simply reform it.

MORE FROM OUR AUTHORS

VISIT OUR POLITICAL ART SECTION:

dc political art

DEMOCRACY CULTURE

Kanye West Kept Off the 2020 Arizona Ballot

Why Was Kanye West Kept Off the 2020 Arizona Ballot?

On September 8, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a short order saying Kanye West could not be on the ballot as an independent candidate for president.

Political Comedy Helps Young Adults

Study Claims Political Comedy Helps Young Adults

Interesting news on this front comes from the University of Pennsylvania: New research suggests that humor may

SNL mocks Giuliani with sketch about voter fraud claims

SNL mocks Giuliani with sketch about voter fraud claims

Saturday Night Live (SNL) parodied Rudy Giuliani in is recent opening sketch that focused on attempts to overturn the November 3 election results for Trump.

Right-Wing Authoritarians Aren’t Very Funny

Study: Right-Wing Authoritarians Aren’t Very Funny

Right-wing authoritarians are considerably less funny than people who do not share that disposition

MORE CULTURE

VISIT OUR US DEMOCRACY SECTION:

American Democracy