The Supreme Court of Nigeria is set to hold a long-awaited hearing on September 25 in the appeal of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a young Sufi Muslim musician sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 for alleged blasphemy.
Sharif-Aminu was convicted by a Sharia court in Kano State after he shared song lyrics on WhatsApp that some deemed blasphemous.
His home was burned by a mob before he was arrested.
The conviction and death sentence sparked global outrage, with rights groups condemning the use of blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
In 2021, the Kano State High Court overturned his conviction, citing serious procedural flaws, including the absence of legal representation during his original trial.
However, the court ordered a retrial, where Sharif-Aminu would again face the possibility of execution under Kano’s blasphemy laws.
An appellate court upheld that decision in 2022, prompting his appeal to the Supreme Court.
International human rights group ADF International is backing Sharif-Aminu’s legal defense, arguing that his case could strike down blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria and set a precedent for freedom of religion across the country.
According to Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International, “No one should be punished, let alone face death, for peacefully sharing song lyrics.
“Yahaya has languished in prison for more than five years over nothing more than a WhatsApp message. This hearing is the next step to earning justice for him and protecting his right to free expression, and in turn, that of every person in Nigeria.”
“Yahaya has languished in prison for more than five years over nothing more than a WhatsApp message.This hearing is the next step to earning justice for him and protecting his right to free expression, and in turn, that of every person in Nigeria.”
Sharif-Aminu is now asking the Supreme Court not only to free him but also to declare Kano’s death penalty for blasphemy unconstitutional, arguing that it violates Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.
“This case goes beyond one young man. It is about whether millions of Nigerians can live free from fear under unjust blasphemy laws,” said Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International.
“We pray that out of Yahaya’s case, we will ultimately see an end to these draconian blasphemy laws and improved protections for religious minorities, including Christians and others, in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the case has drawn significant global attention. The European Parliament passed resolutions in April 2023 and February 2025 demanding Sharif-Aminu’s release and calling for Nigeria to repeal its blasphemy laws.
The United Nations has also intervened, with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declaring his imprisonment a violation of international law and urging his immediate release.
Kola Alapinni, international human rights lawyer and legal counsel for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, expressed hope that the Supreme Court will deliver justice:
“It is our hope that the Supreme Court will deliver justice to this young man.
“For far too long, blasphemy laws have wrongfully been used to persecute and harm religious minorities. It is time for the court to make a decision that upholds the right to religious freedom in Nigeria.”
Nigeria remains one of only seven countries in the world where blasphemy is punishable by death.
A ruling in favour of Sharif-Aminu could set a historic precedent, potentially making such laws unenforceable and expanding protections for religious minorities nationwide.