The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has asked Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to approve the execution of a musician, Shariff Yahaya Shariff, who was recently sentenced to death by a Sharia court for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammed.
An upper Sharia court in the Hausawa Filin Hockey area of Kano State had sentenced Shariff to death on August 10, 2020, after finding him guilty of blasphemy for a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Sharia Council also applauded the ‘courage’ displayed by the Qadi Ali Kani of the Upper Shari’ah Court Gyadi-Gyadi Kano in sentencing the musician to death.
The Sharia Council said Ganduje should immediately ensure the execution of the court judgment to serve as a deterrent to others.
Secretary General of the Sharia Council, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmed, advised Ganduje to ignore human right activists who are asking for pardon for the singer.
According to the Sharia Council, the activities of the human rights activities should not deter the state government from going ahead to execute Shariff.
Parts of the statement read, “The Council commends the courage of Qadi Ali Kani of the Upper Shari’ah Court Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano in the case of C. O. P. vs Shariff Yahaya Shariff No. CR/43/2020 decided on 10th August, 2020 where the accused person was charged, tried and convicted for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
“The calls by some so-called human rights groups to pardon the culprit should not deter the state government from doing the right thing as this case is purely an Islamic affair and in consonance with the religion, culture and wishes of not only the people of Kano, but the majority population of Nigeria who are Muslims.
“The council reminded Nigerians, especially the secular human rights group that the judgment is in line with the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Abubakar Shalla vs State (2007) 12 MJSC at page 52 to 53 paragraph G-B, which says ‘that the position of the Law under Shari’ah is that any sane and adult Muslim, who insults, defames, or utters words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrepute, odium, contempt of the Holy Prophet, such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death.
“We therefore call on Muslims to be mindful of their utterances as the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Who ever believes in Allah and the Last Say should say what is right or keep silent.”
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