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

B100111/2025

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

(2025/2548(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas on 10 August 2020, Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was brought before an upper Sharia court in Kano State, where he was tried without legal representation and sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy in a song he composed and shared on social media containing allegedly derogatory comments regarding the Prophet Muhammad;

B.whereas on 21 January 2021, Kano State High Court ordered a retrial on the grounds of procedural irregularities and on 17 August 2022 the Court of Appeal upheld the constitutionality of the blasphemy provisions in the Sharia Penal Code and affirmed the retrial order;

C.whereas in November 2022, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against his conviction, arguing that the blasphemy law under Kano State’s Sharia Penal Code directly violates Nigeria’s Constitution and binding international human rights treaties; whereas he remains in prison;

D.whereas many other people have been harmed by Nigeria’s blasphemy laws

E. Recalls that Nigeria is party of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which restricts capital punishment to the most serious crimes, and that the Sharia is practiced in at least 12 states in northern Nigeria and imposes the death penalty for blasphemy;

F.whereas blasphemy laws in Nigeria are in violation of its international human rights commitments, the African Charter and the Nigerian Constitution;

1.Urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, drop all charges against him and guarantee his due process rights and to all others who face blasphemy allegations;

2.Recalls that blasphemy laws are in clear breach of international human rights obligations, in particular the ICCPR, and contrary to the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression;

3.Urges the Nigerian authorities to uphold human rights and religious liberty throughout the country by ensuring that federal and state law do not deny Nigerians protection under the national Constitution and international conventions neither their freedom of faith;

4.Recalls that Nigeria has enormous influence throughout Africa and the Muslim world, and stresses that this case presents an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way in addressing the Islamic fundamentalist backsliding in the region;

5.Urges the Nigerian Government to tackle the impunity surrounding blasphemy accusations and to repeal the blasphemy laws at federal and state level;

6.Recalls the international efforts to fight Islamic terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, who are attacking, killing and displacing Nigerians and particularly Christians and urges Nigeria to immediately take action to fight and prevent their terrorist attack;

7.Calls for the EU and its Member States, as key development partners, to raise individual cases, human rights concerns and blasphemy laws with the Nigerian authorities;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Nigerian authorities and international institutions.