- Supreme Court of Nigeria will hold a hearing in the appeal of Yahaya-Sharif Aminu, a young musician previously sentenced to death by hanging for alleged blasphemy.
- ADF International is supporting Sharif-Aminu’s legal defense in a case that could strike down northern Nigeria’s blasphemy laws and set a precedent for freedom of religion across the country and world.
ABUJA (18 September 2025) – On September 25th, the first hearing in the case of Sufi Muslim Yahaya Sharif-Aminu will be held at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. A Sharia court previously sentenced him to death by hanging in 2020 after being accused of sharing allegedly “blasphemous” song lyrics on WhatsApp. Following an appeal, the Kano State High Court overturned his conviction and ordered a retrial, where he would face the same potential death penalty. ADF International is supporting Sharif-Aminu’s defense before the Supreme Court. The case holds the potential to overturn northern Nigeria’s draconian blasphemy laws.
“No one should be punished, let alone face death, for peacefully sharing song lyrics,” said Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International. “Yahaya has languished in prison for more than five years over nothing more than a WhatsApp message. This hearing is the next step to earning justice for him and protecting his right to free expression, and in turn, that of every person in Nigeria.”
“Yahaya has languished in prison for more than five years over nothing more than a WhatsApp message.This hearing is the next step to earning justice for him and protecting his right to free expression, and in turn, that of every person in Nigeria."
Background
In March 2020, Yahaya-Sharif Aminu, a Sufi Muslim from Kano State, shared song lyrics on WhatsApp that some considered blasphemous. Local authorities arrested him, while a mob burned his home to the ground. On 10 August 2020, a Sharia court convicted him of blasphemy and sentenced him to death by hanging.
In January 2021, the court overturned the conviction, citing serious procedural flaws, including the lack of legal representation during his original trial. The High Court ordered a retrial, in which Sharif-Aminu would face the same death penalty blasphemy law. After an appellate court upheld the retrial order in 2022, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“This case goes beyond one young man. It is about whether millions of Nigerians can live free from fear under unjust blasphemy laws,” said Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International. “We pray that out of Yahaya’s case, we will ultimately see an end to these draconian blasphemy laws and improved protections for religious minorities, including Christians and others, in Nigeria.”
Sharif-Aminu has remained in prison for over five years and is currently awaiting justice from the Supreme Court. Sharif-Aminu, in his appeal, is now asking the court not only to free him, but also to declare Kano State’s death penalty blasphemy law unconstitutional, arguing that it violates Nigeria’s own constitution and international commitments to protect freedom of religion and expression.
A ruling in Sharif-Aminu’s favor could set a precedent for the entire country, potentially rendering blasphemy laws unenforceable and protecting religious minorities from facing similar prosecutions in the future. A positive ruling would have a major effect around the world, as Nigeria is one of only seven countries in the world with a death penalty blasphemy law.
“It is our hope that the Supreme Court will deliver justice to this young man,” said Kola Alapinni, international human rights lawyer and legal counsel for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. “For far too long, blasphemy laws have wrongfully been used to persecute and harm religious minorities. It is time for the court to make a decision that upholds the right to religious freedom in Nigeria.”
Global Calls for Sharif-Aminu's Release
Sharif-Aminu’s case has received international attention. In April 2023, the European Parliament issued a near-unanimous urgency resolution calling for the repeal of Nigeria’s blasphemy laws and the immediate release of Yahaya-Sharif Aminu.
In a rare second urgency resolution in February 2025, the Parliament reaffirmed its stance: it demanded his “immediate and unconditional release,” condemned the blasphemy law, and urged Nigeria to lead by example in abolishing blasphemy laws that threaten religious minorities
The United Nations also weighed in on Sharif-Aminu’s imprisonment, publicly demanding his release in May 2024. In late 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a thorough opinion finding Sharif-Aminu’s case in violation of multiple internationally-protected human rights and calling for his immediate release.
