Amnesty International Renews Call for Release of Kano Musician Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

Amnesty International has renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aminu Yahaya-Sharif, the 22-year-old Kano musician who was sentenced to death by hanging in August 2020 over an alleged blasphemous song.

According to a post on Amnesty International Instagram account, Yahaya-Sharif’s ordeal began in March 2020 after he circulated a song on WhatsApp, prompting an angry mob to burn down his family home.

He was subsequently arrested and tried by an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano, where he was convicted of blasphemy in what human-rights observers described as an unfair trial based on “bogus charges” and without adequate legal representation.

Four years after his conviction, concerns over his health continue to grow. Amnesty International officials who visited him in March 2024 reported that Yahaya-Sharif was in poor physical condition, suffering from severe asthma and requiring continuous access to an inhaler and related medications.

During a follow-up visit in November 2024, Amnesty International confirmed that although Yahaya-Sharif’s condition had improved due to medication provided to him, he still urgently requires sustained access to essential treatments to manage his chronic illness.

The organization reiterated that Yahaya-Sharif’s conviction violates both Nigerian and international human rights law, emphasizing that no one should face imprisonment—let alone a death sentence—for peacefully expressing their beliefs.

Amnesty International is urging Nigerian authorities to overturn the conviction, drop all charges, and ensure the young musician’s immediate release. The group is also calling for improved prison healthcare and protection for individuals accused of blasphemy, who face heightened risks of mob violence.

As Yahaya-Sharif continues to languish in detention, activists and rights groups warn that his case symbolizes the urgent need for reform of blasphemy laws and the protection of freedom of expression across Nigeria.