/ / Urgent Action: GRAVE HEALTH CONCERNS FOR SINGER ON DEATH ROW [Nigeria Third UA 137.20]

GRAVE HEALTH CONCERNS FOR SINGER ON DEATH ROW [Nigeria Third UA 137.20]

UA: Third 137.20 Nigeria

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In August 2020, singer Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu (now 25 years-old) was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging for “blasphemy” after circulating a song on WhatsApp that allegedly contained derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad SAW. In November 2022, an appeal was filed before the Supreme Court of Nigeria for which a hearing date is yet to be fixed. In the meantime, Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu, who has asthma, remains held in a correctional facility without adequate access to his medication. The Nigerian authorities must take all necessary steps to overturn Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu’s conviction and grant his immediate and unconditional release. Pending his release, he must be granted regular access to all necessary medication.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: August 17, 2025

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Step 1

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Remember to send your letter by August 17, 2025.

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Sample Letter

Dear Attorney General,

I am writing in grave concern for the life of 25-year-old singer, Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu. On August 10, 2020, an Upper Sharia Court in Kano state convicted and sentenced to death Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu (who was then 21 years old) of “blasphemy” for circulating a song on WhatsApp that was considered blasphemous against Prophet Muhammad SAW.

In March 2024, Amnesty International visited Yahaya Sheriff-Aminu in detention and found him in poor health. Additionally, he was not provided with food and adequate clothing.

Blasphemy laws are a violation of the right to freedom of expression. Additionally, the use of the death penalty for “blasphemy” violates Nigeria’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which restricts the use of this punishment to the “most serious crimes”, which the UN Human Rights Committee has clarified as referring to intentional killing.

I urge you to drop the charges against Yahaya Aminu Sheriff to ensure his immediate and unconditional release and work towards securing the timely setting of a date for appeal hearing. In the meantime, he must be held in detention conditions that conform to international standards (as per the Mandela Rules) and be granted immediate access to adequate health care, as well as adequate food and clothing.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

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Step 2

Send your letter

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Kano State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi Kano State

Ministry of Justice

Audu Baka Secretariat Kano
15, Club Road, P.M.B. 3352, Kano, Nigeria

Kano State AG & Commissioner for Justice Twitter/X Handle: @DederiIsa
Kano State Governor Twitter/X handle: @Kyusufabba
Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service Twitter/X handle: @CorrectionsNg

and

CC: Nigerian Embassy in the United States

Ambassador Samson Itegboje

3519 International Court, NW,
Washington, DC 20008

Emails: [email protected]
[email protected]

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