Human rights experts in the United Nations have demanded the release of 22-year-old singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death over an allegedly blasphemous song shared on social media.
In a joint statement on Monday, titled ‘UN rights experts urge Nigeria to overturn death sentence for singer who shared song on Whatsapp’, the experts said the sentence broke international law.
The statement from the group of U.N. rapporteurs read, “We are deeply concerned over the serious lack of due process in Mr Sharif-Aminu’s case so far, especially reports that he has been held incommunicado and that he did not have access to a lawyer during his initial trial, a trial that was not open to the public”.
“The criminalisation of these expressions is unlawful. Music is not a crime.”
“We are also gravely concerned about Mr Sharif-Aminu’s safety, in light of the death threats against him. Nigeria must take effective measures to protect Mr Sharif-Aminu in detention as well as after his release.”
According to a special rapporteur on cultural rights, Karima Bennoune, “Application of the death penalty for artistic expression or for sharing a song on the internet is a flagrant violation of international human rights law, as well as of Nigeria’s constitution”.
The experts, therefore, urged Nigerian authorities to overturn the death sentence and also guarantee his safety while he is appealing his conviction.