A Nigerian singer named Yahaya Aminu Sharif has been sentenced to death by an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad.
22-year-old Sharif, who is a resident of Kano, circulated the track on WhatsApp, reportedly causing riots throughout the city.
BBC reports that the singer had gone into hiding after sharing the song which praised an Imam from the Tijaniya Muslim brotherhood to the point of elevating him above the Prophet Muhammad.
Protesters burnt down Sharif’s family home and demanded his prosecution, which led to his eventual arrest.
Describing the verdict as fair, the prosecutor, Inspector Aminu Yargoje, said that the death sentence would prevent further blasphemy in the state.
Guards at the court stopped newsmen from speaking to Sharif after the sentencing, but a court spokesman revealed that he has 30 days to lodge an appeal.
Baba-Jibo Ibrahim, the spokesman for Kano region justice ministry, said:
The court handed down the death sentence as enshrined in Islamic laws based on irrefutable evidence and the convict’s admission of guilt.”
Sharif’s death sentence is causing a Twitter storm as reactions keep being posted. See some of them below:
A 22yr old Nigerian singer will soon be hanged for blasphemy in a SECULAR state and the media is quiet about it… Meanwhile, Boko Haram members that have killed thousands are being treated like senior citizens.
If Islam is truly a religion of peace, now is the time to show it.
— Obi Of Onitsha???????? (@Uncle_clique) August 11, 2020
This is the Personal Assistant to the President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (Buhari) boldly and confidently supporting death penalty for Blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
And you want to tell me what's happening in Southern Kaduna is politically motivated killings? pic.twitter.com/9atYY03LCx
— ???????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????Ⓜ ???????????? ✈ (@AimThaMachine_) August 11, 2020
Sharia Law should be abolished in Nigeria. No man deserves to die for expressing their opinion. It's so primitive to sentence a whole human life to death cos of blasphemy, all in the name of religion.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) August 11, 2020
Religion of peace, religion of tolerance, but a singer is sentenced to death for blasphemy against Mohammed, it's so ironic because same country is rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram terrorists
Buhari's media aide even supported death sentenced for blasphemy, you hate to see it
— Zaddy Ajala (@UNCLE_AJALA) August 11, 2020
Wow! This small boy is really a nitwit!! You representing the government of a secular state like Nigeria supporting death penalty for *blasphemy* but opposing even jail sentence for caught boko haram fighters and marauding Fulani killers every where … https://t.co/rKN9Nbf1ft
— Olushola Olufolabi (@olushola_shola) August 11, 2020
I'm reporting every account that supports the hanging of a 22year old for blasphemy. A mob already burned down the poor boy's family house and the boy had to go into hiding. Showing support for such barbaric act should amount to triggering violence or harm.
— Adeolu | | (@_deoluwaa) August 11, 2020
I can't live in a country with people that justify Murder because of blasphemy.
I don't care if it their Culture, it's not my culture.
Nigeria will not have economic prosperity without peace.
Our Economic policy needs to be decentralized and fully regionalised.
— William (@_SirWilliam_) August 11, 2020
This guy promised to intervene when a Northern Muslim was sentenced for kidnapping a minor from Bayelsa and rapping her.
He also supports the death penalty for Blasphemy.
He is a presidential aide.
We are fuvked. https://t.co/QoI4cwCXbS— No one (Pilot by Affidavit) (@ilynem) August 11, 2020
In Nigeria, you are only on the wrong side of the law, including the shariah law when you are poor. When you are rich, everything you do or say including blasphemy, adultery, theft as in the case of the Gandollar episode is passable.
— Abdulsalam Khalid???????? (@dr_khalidz) August 11, 2020
Bashir Ahmad is mentoring @Waspapping_. They are birds of a feather. They are both religious extremists. Their ethnic jingoism is next to none.
Do not forget that the proposed Hate Speech Law is VERY comparable to the Sharia Blasphemy Law. They just packaged it lai dat. pic.twitter.com/cVWk9TI0MO
— Mazi @FestusGreen ???????? (@FestusGreen) August 11, 2020
Here’s Bashir’s view when a citizen is sentenced to death for religious ‘Blasphemy’ VS when a Northern Muslim is sentenced to prison for Abduction & Raping a minor.
Your presidential aide ladies & gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/L1ckhyJf0p
— Awele (@DreNwadugbo) August 11, 2020
See how he said "because someone was sentenced to death for blasphemy," so casually. Like, "small sentencing to death you people are shouting."
Osanobua ???? https://t.co/MRAUZiC8lA
— No one (Pilot by Affidavit) (@ilynem) August 11, 2020
Islam doesn't preach about forgiveness? How on earth would someone convince me to be a Muslim when the penalty to BLASPHEMY is death. NOOO this ain't right! Religion is all about RECONCILIATION n LIBERTY.
— ABIJA WARA bi SMOOCHEY (@Omini_Smoochey) August 11, 2020
Please use the Weapons to stop the Death Sentence for Blasphemy https://t.co/gpdGdtOLSy
— DANNY ???????? (@DannyWalta) August 11, 2020
These people supporting Death sentence against blasphemy of prophet Mohammed would gladly support bokoharam for killing 'just christians' If it didn't affect them..
— Wired'Weird (@EngeeJoan) August 11, 2020
Show me where your Quran prescribes death as punishment for blasphemy
Waiting
— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) August 11, 2020
