Tobias Sylvester
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has asked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State to execute the judgement passed on 22-year-old singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was found guilty of blasphemy.
KanyiDaily recalls that a Sharia Court in Kano State had found Sharif-Aminu guilty of blasphemy for releasing a song insulting the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Mr Sharif-Aminu did not deny the charges leveled against him and the presiding judge, Khadi Aliyu Muhammad Kani, sentenced him to death by hanging.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmad, on Tuesday, the Shari’ah Council said Governor Ganduje must, as a matter of urgency execute the singer by hanging in accordance to the court judgement to serve as a deterrent to others.
The council berated those asking for the convict to be pardoned, noting that the case is purely an Islamic affair and in consonance with the religion, culture and wishes of all the Muslims in the country.
“The calls by some so-called human rights groups to pardon the culprit should not deter the state government from doing the right thing.
“This case is purely an Islamic affair, in consonance with the religion, culture and wishes of not only the people of Kano, but the majority of the population of Nigeria that are Muslims.
“The Council further wishes to emphatically remind all Nigerians, especially the secular human rights groups, that the judgement is in line with the Supreme Court judgement.”
It cited the case of Abubakar Shalla Vs State (2007) 12 MJSC, page 52-53 paragraph G-B, where the Supreme Court ruled ‘that the position of the Law under Shari’ah is that any sane and adult Muslim who insults, defames, or utters words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrepute, odium, contempt of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon Him), such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death.’
“We therefore call on all Muslims to be mindful of their utterances as the Prophet (SAW) said: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is right or keep silent,” the statement reads.
The leader of Boko Haram terrorist, Abubakar Shekau had also condemned the death sentence handed to a Kano-based musician, noting that there is no difference between the accused and those who sentenced him to death.
