Blasphemy: UK Issues Stern Warning To Nigeria Over Death Sentence For Singer

The United Kingdom says it is monitoring the religious situation in Kano where a singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, has been sentenced to death for abusing prophet Muhammad.

The UK made it position on the issue known in an interview by its high commission with PUNCH.

An upper Sharia court in the state sentenced Sharif-Aminu to death by hanging on August 10 after he was found guilty of committing blasphemy in a song circulated via WhatsApp in March.

EkoHotBlog had reported how the development has sparked widespread outrage among many Nigerians.

But the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria asked the state government to execute the judgement, saying it will serve as a deterrent to others.

Reacting to the development, Christopher Ogunmodede, senior press and public affairs officer of the British high commission in Nigeria, told PUNCH that people have the right to freely express opinions and peacefully challenge authorities.

“The United Kingdom is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, and to being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right,” the newspaper quoted Ogunmode to have said.

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“We believe that the rights of individuals to express opinions and peacefully challenge authorities are essential to a free and open society. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. It is a longstanding policy of the UK Government to oppose the death penalty, in all circumstances, as a matter of principle.”