Nigeria Archives

Sentenced to Death for WhatsApp Lyrics, Petition for Nigerian Musician’s Release Brought to UN Working Group

ADF International today filed a complaint requesting the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to declare Yahaya Sharif-Aminu’s prosecution contrary to international law.

Amidst death threats, Nigerian Court rules Christian convert is free to change her religion

Mary, an 18-year-old Christian convert, successfully secured protection from members of her family who threatened to kill her for converting from Islam.

Blasphemy Laws Nigeria Religious freedom Sean Nelson

“No one should be sentenced to death for peaceful expression”—Human rights advocates call on Nigeria to release prisoner of conscience Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

209 international and Nigerian human rights advocates call for the immediate release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.

Nigeria Religious freedom Sean Nelson Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

VIDEO: ADF International applauds European Parliament for supporting Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and condemning Nigerian blasphemy laws

ADF International released a video thanking members of the European Parliament for their support of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in a near-unanimous urgency resolution.

Kelsey Zorzi Nigeria Religious freedom Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

European Parliament condemns Nigerian speech laws which put “blasphemous” Whatsapp musician on death row

Kola Alipinni, Yahaya's lawyer standing with Sean Nelson and Kelsey Zorzi

In an urgency resolution the European Parliament has called for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a young Nigerian musician sentenced to death under the blasphemy law of Kano state, northern Nigeria. The resolution “recalls that blasphemy laws are in clear breach calls of international human” and “contrary to the Nigerian Constitution which guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression.

Georgia Du Plessis Kelsey Zorzi Nigeria Religious freedom

Nigerian Human Rights Defender Appeals to International Community to Speak Out to Save Yahaya

Delegates from all over the globe were present at the 2023 International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, DC over the last two days.

Blasphemy Laws IRF Nigeria Religious freedom

European Parliament condemns blasphemy laws ahead of potentially landmark free speech case in Nigeria

The European Parliament has condemned “in strong terms the enforcement of blasphemy laws” and stressed the importance of the “freedom to choose one’s religion”.

Blasphemy Laws europe European Parliament Nigeria

Nigeria’s death-for-blasphemy laws slammed at European Parliament as musician brings case to Supreme Court

MEP Carlo Fidanza brings attention to Nigerian musician’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria

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Musician Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy Appeals to Nigerian Supreme Court—ADF International Supporting Potential Landmark Case

A notice of appeal has been filed with the Supreme Court of Nigeria for the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian Sufi musician, who was sentenced to death for charges of blasphemy.

freedom of religion Nigeria Religious freedom

Over 32,800 Petitioners Call on U.S. Government to Add Nigeria Back on Religious Freedom Watchlist

The removal of Nigeria from the U.S. State Department’s “Country of Political Concern” (CPC) list has led to the worsening of religious freedom abuses in the country. Petition calls on U.S. government to reinstate Nigeria—one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a Christian—to upcoming State Department designation.

freedom of religion Nigeria Religious freedom