Nigeria: singer sentenced to death by Islamic court

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2 min

In Nigeria, an Islamic court in Kano, in the north of the country, sentenced to death a musician, a young artist accused of blasphemy against the prophet. It must be said that the states of northern Nigeria have applied, since the early 2000s, a strict version of Sharia law, Islamic law. This is the second time that a death sentence has been pronounced for blasphemy.

Publicity

Yahaya Aminu Sharif, a 22-year-old artist, is accused of insulting the Prophet Mohamed in a song, which was released on social media in March. The song had raised an uproar in Kano, a northern megalopolis. Angry residents set fire to the young artist's family home before protesting outside the Islamic police station, arguing that local authorities were not doing their job to preserve Sharia law.

Misunderstanding

Yahaya Aminu Sharif was arrested and brought to trial on Monday, August 11, before the Islamic court in Kano. During his hearing, which took place behind closed doors, the artist pleaded guilty. The sentence fell in the wake, like a ax: death sentence; the musician should be hanged. He can still appeal this decision.

Barely pronounced, this judgment reassured demonstrators in Kano, who believe that this sentence serves as an example. Conversely, on social networks, several Internet users express their incomprehension concerning the strict application of the Sharia when the authorities reinstate nearly 600 members of Boko Haram who have repented.

An Upper Shari'a Court sitting at Hausawa Quarters in Kano has sentenced a 22-year old singer Yahaya Aminu Sharif to death by hanging for blasphemy against Prophet of Muhammad. In his ruling on Monday, the Shari'a court Khadi, Aliyu Muhammad Kani, found ... https://t.co/x2ALZcjyEt

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