{"id":14349,"date":"2023-01-19T09:13:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T09:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=14349"},"modified":"2024-02-16T10:07:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T09:07:02","slug":"european-parliament-condemns-blasphemy-laws-ahead-of-potentially-landmark-free-speech-case-in-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/european-parliament-condemns-blasphemy-laws","title":{"rendered":"European Parliament condemns blasphemy laws ahead of potentially landmark free speech case in Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14349\" class=\"elementor elementor-14349\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-01f3c94 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"01f3c94\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1cab19\" data-id=\"d1cab19\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dc0b37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7dc0b37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><p>Human rights report denounces death penalty for blasphemy<\/p><\/li><li><p>In Nigeria, Sufi Muslim Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2020. He is currently challenging the constitutionality of the Sharia blasphemy law under which he was convicted for an allegedly blasphemous audio message<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab3a5b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab3a5b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>BRUSSELS<\/strong> (20 January 2023) &#8211; The European Parliament has condemned \u201cin strong terms the enforcement of blasphemy laws\u201d and stressed the importance of the \u201cfreedom to choose one\u2019s religion\u201d.<\/p><p>The 2022 <em>Annual Report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union\u2019s policy on the matter<\/em> \u2013 adopted with a vote of 438 in support, 75 against \u2013 draws particular attention to the death penalty in alleged blasphemy cases. Religious freedom \u201cremains a fundamental right that cannot be punished by death or any degrading treatment\u201d. As of 2020, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020%20Blasphemy%20Enforcement%20Report%20_final_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">84 countries<\/a> across the world with criminal blasphemy laws.<\/p><p>\u201cNobody should be punished because of their faith \u2013 let alone be killed for it. This report comes at a critical time. Christians are the most persecuted faith group in the world \u2013 and 13 Christians are being killed every day in Nigeria simply because of what they believe. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Commitment from the European Parliament is a great step forward, but more needs to be done\u201d, said Dr. Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel for ADF International in Brussels.<\/p><p><strong>Sufi Muslim sentenced to death challenges blasphemy law in Nigeria<\/strong><\/p><p>The adoption of the report comes ahead of a potential landmark case for religious freedom in Nigeria. In 2020 Sufi musician <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/nigeria-blasphemy-laws\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahaya Sharif-Aminu<\/a> was sentenced to death for \u201cblasphemy\u201d. His alleged crime involved posting song lyrics to WhatsApp that were deemed blasphemous. With support from the human rights group ADF International, he has appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and is challenging the constitutionality of the Sharia-based blasphemy laws.<\/p><p>Yahaya remains in prison awaiting the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. Meanwhile, his case is far from an isolated incident. In 2021, more than half of the Christians that were killed for their faith worldwide were Nigerians.<\/p><p>Only six months ago the European Parliament rejected a motion to debate Christian persecution after Nigerian student Deborah Samuel Yakubu had been brutally murdered due to blasphemy allegations. Human rights lawyers and MEPs were appalled after the rejection.<\/p><p>\u201cThe European Union should make religious freedom one of its top priorities. Yahaya needs all the support he can get. His case could be the catalyst for the change we all are hoping for. We are supporting Yahaya\u2019s case because nobody should be persecuted for what they believe in, and as a result, we hope that blasphemy laws will be eradicated in Nigeria once and for all,\u201d commented <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/georgia-du-plessis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Georgia Du Plessis<\/a>, Legal Officer for ADF International.<\/p><p><strong>Newly appointed Special Envoy urgently needed<\/strong><\/p><p>In December 2022, after the position was left vacant for almost three years, the European Commission appointed a new Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. The adopted Report \u201cemphasizes that the Special Envoy should also pay particular attention to forced conversion, [and the] misuse of blasphemy laws\u201d.<\/p><p>\u201cWe welcome that the European Parliament identifies blasphemy laws as a threat to religious freedom and the wellbeing of every person. The EU must support brave individuals such as Yahaya Sharif-Aminu who risks losing his life for having exercised his religious freedom in Nigeria\u201d, Du Plessis stated further.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1c4475 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a1c4475\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0702bff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0702bff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImages for free use in print or online in relation to this story only\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61696c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"61696c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:2,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" 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role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Georgia-Du-Plessis_400x400px.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"61696c5\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Georgia Du Plessis 400x400px\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjMzNiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2FkZmludGVybmF0aW9uYWwub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIxXC8xMVwvR2VvcmdpYS1EdS1QbGVzc2lzXzQwMHg0MDBweC5wbmciLCJzbGlkZXNob3ciOiI2MTY5NmM1In0%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Georgia-Du-Plessis_400x400px-300x300.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"300\" aria-label=\"Georgia Du Plessis of ADF International\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Yahaya-1.png\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"61696c5\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Yahaya (1)\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTI5ODYsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyMlwvMTBcL1lhaGF5YS0xLnBuZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjYxNjk2YzUifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Yahaya-1-300x234.png\" data-width=\"300\" data-height=\"234\" aria-label=\"Man sitting\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The European Parliament has condemned \u201cin strong terms the enforcement of blasphemy laws\u201d and stressed the importance of the \u201cfreedom to choose one\u2019s religion\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":14350,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[81,130,244,127,514],"class_list":["post-14349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-blasphemy-laws","tag-europe","tag-european-parliament","tag-nigeria","tag-yahaya-sharif-aminu"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>European Parliament condemns blasphemy laws<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The European Parliament has condemned \u201cin strong terms the enforcement of blasphemy laws\u201d and stressed the importance of the \u201cfreedom to choose one\u2019s religion\u201d.\" \/>\n<meta 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