The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has urged Kano State government to execute the court judgment that found a musician guilty for blasphemy.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmad, Tuesday in Kaduna, the Shari’ah Council said executing the judgment will serve as deterrent to others.
It berated those calling for the pardon of the convict, and advised the Kano State government not to be swayed by their antics.
The Council, therefore, asked Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, to as a matter of urgency ensure the execution of the court judgement to serve as a deterrent to others.
The statement reads: “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 the offence of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W.).
“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 Nigerian’s especially the secular human rights group that the judgement is in line with the Supreme Court judgement 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 (peace be upon him), 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, ‘Whichever believes in Allah and the Last Say should say what is right or keep silent.”
An upper Sharia court in the Hausawa Filin Hockey area of Kano State while delivering judgement on 10th August, 2020 said Shariff Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, 22, was guilty of committing blasphemy for a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March.
The Islamic gospel musician who was not well-known in northern Nigeria and his songs not popular outside his Tjjaniya sect had gone into hiding after he composed the song.
Protesters had burnt down his family home and gathered outside the headquarters of the Islamic police, known as the Hisbah, demanding action against him.
Also critics said the song was blasphemous as it praised an imam from the Tijaniya Muslim brotherhood to the extent it elevated him above the Prophet Muhammad.
