{"id":18812,"date":"2023-09-25T16:10:11","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T15:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=18812"},"modified":"2024-02-16T10:01:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T09:01:35","slug":"sentenced-to-death-for-whatsapp-lyrics-petition-for-nigerian-musicians-release-brought-to-un-working-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/yahaya-unwgad-petition","title":{"rendered":"Sentenced to Death for WhatsApp Lyrics, Petition for Nigerian Musician\u2019s Release Brought to UN Working Group"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18812\" class=\"elementor elementor-18812\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ef06577 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ef06577\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\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-862ba01\" data-id=\"862ba01\" 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-888ca08 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"888ca08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>ADF International and international human rights lawyer Kola Alapinni today filed a complaint requesting the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to declare Yahaya Sharif-Aminu's prosecution and detention contrary to international law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>Yahaya was sentenced to death by hanging in Nigeria for alleged blasphemy. Currently imprisoned, his appeal, supported by ADF International, is before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\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-e2b0c12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2b0c12\" 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><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"\"><b>GENEVA<\/b><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><b> (25 September 2023)<\/b> ADF International and international human rights lawyer Kola Alapinni today filed a complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention advocating for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu\u2014a young Sufi musician sentenced to death and currently imprisoned under the blasphemy law of Kano State in northern Nigeria. Yahaya has been held in prison since his arrest in March of 2020, after which he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by a Sharia court. The UN Working Group is a body of independent human rights experts that investigate cases of arbitrary arrest and detention.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yahaya Sharif-Aminu\u2019s case was filed at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 2022, and has the potential to overturn the country\u2019s draconian blasphemy law regime. The Supreme Court has yet to announce when the case will be heard.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention\u2019s opinion declaring the continuing prosecution and detention of Yahaya as arbitrary in violation of international law would be of great benefit not only to free Yahaya, but also to highlight the human rights abuses enabled by blasphemy laws in Nigeria,\u201d stated Sean Nelson, legal counsel for global religious freedom and ADF International\u2019s lead lawyer on the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAs a consequence of the country\u2019s blasphemy laws, Nigerian citizens, particularly in the northern part of the country, lack the full freedom to speak about their beliefs and live out their faith. Blasphemy laws destabilize societies, provoke violence, and ultimately violate religious freedom and freedom of expression. It is far past time for authorities in Nigeria to release Yahaya and put an end to these blasphemy laws,\u201d added Nelson.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"\">Death sentence for \u201cblasphemy\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A recently released short <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/free-yahaya\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">video<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> from ADF International features Yahaya\u2019s story, including testimonies from his family.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In 2020, Sufi Muslim singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging for \u201cblasphemy\u201d. His alleged crime involved sending song lyrics on WhatsApp that were deemed blasphemous toward the prophet Mohammed. While his conviction eventually was overturned due to lack of legal representation at his trial, he was ordered a retrial where he would face the same death penalty blasphemy law. With support from ADF International, Yahaya has appealed his case to the Supreme Court of Nigeria and is challenging the constitutionality of Sharia-based blasphemy laws. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThree and a half years later, Yahaya is languishing in prison for the simple act of sending a WhatsApp message expressing religious beliefs and opinions through song lyrics,\u201d stated Kola Alapinni, the international human rights lawyer who is representing Yahaya at the Supreme Court of Nigeria and working alongside ADF International to secure justice for Yahaya.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alapinni further noted: \u201cNo one should be imprisoned, and much less sentenced to death, under the law for peacefully sharing beliefs and opinions about religion. We Nigerians urgently await action on the part of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Yahaya\u2019s release would send a strong message that Nigeria will work to protect the fundamental freedoms of free expression and freedom of religion. It is our hope that all who are able to, including influential voices at the UN, will join us in speaking out on Yahaya\u2019s behalf\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yahaya remains in prison awaiting the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. Meanwhile, his case is far from an isolated incident. Many others have been prosecuted for alleged blasphemy and religious insult in Nigeria. Further, together with minority Muslims, the persecution of Christians in Nigeria is severe. In 2022, approximately 90% of all Christians worldwide who were killed for their faith were in Nigeria.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">International pressure has been mounting to free Yahaya and end blasphemy laws. Earlier this year, over 200 international and Nigerian human rights advocates <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/release-yahaya\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">sent a letter<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to Nigeria\u2019s outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari, calling for Yahaya\u2019s immediate release. The European Parliament also called for his release in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/yahaya-resolution\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">near-unanimous resolution<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that urged Nigeria to repeal its blasphemy laws.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: 1.1px;\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/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-4443fd4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4443fd4\" 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-8310b80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8310b80\" 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>Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only<\/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-bb424a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"bb424a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bb424a0\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"GRF-team-kola-yahayas-lawyer.jpg\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTUzNTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMDNcL0dSRi10ZWFtLWtvbGEteWFoYXlhcy1sYXd5ZXIuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmI0MjRhMCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/GRF-team-kola-yahayas-lawyer-1024x683.jpg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"683\" aria-label=\"Kola Alapinni, Sean Nelson, and Kelsey Zorzi in the United States with blue documents.\" 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>ADF International today filed a complaint requesting the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to declare Yahaya Sharif-Aminu&#8217;s prosecution contrary to international law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":13386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[127,27,235,252,514],"class_list":["post-18812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-nigeria","tag-religious-freedom","tag-sean-nelson","tag-united-nations","tag-yahaya-sharif-aminu"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sentenced to Death for WhatsApp Lyrics, Petition for Nigerian Musician\u2019s Release Brought to UN Working Group - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"ADF Intl today filed a complaint requesting the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to declare Yahaya Sharif-Aminu&#039;s prosecution contrary to international law.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/yahaya-unwgad-petition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sentenced to Death for WhatsApp Lyrics, Petition for Nigerian Musician\u2019s Release Brought to UN Working Group\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"ADF Intl today filed a complaint requesting the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to declare Yahaya Sharif-Aminu&#039;s prosecution contrary to international law.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/yahaya-unwgad-petition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ADF International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-25T15:10:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-16T09:01:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/UPDATED-YAHAYA.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"609\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp 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