resolution motion, 10 February 2025
On Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu
Motion B-10-2025-0101 · (2025/2548(RSP))
on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Merja Kyllönen
AI:In short
The resolution concerns the continued detention and death sentence of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu in Nigeria for blasphemy, and calls for his release, a moratorium on the death penalty, and the repeal of blasphemy laws. It also urges Nigeria to end impunity for mob killings, stresses the importance of secularism and freedom of conscience, and calls on EU member states to repeal similar laws.
Key points
- Urges Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and drop the appeal against the quashing of his conviction.
- Strongly recommends establishing an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards full abolition and commuting all sentences until then.
- Invites national authorities to end impunity and ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of mob killings related to blasphemy.
- Calls on Nigerian authorities to swiftly repeal blasphemy laws, as they are inconsistent with the constitution and international human rights obligations.
- Stresses that legal systems based on religious prescriptions are incompatible with freedom of conscience, and that secularism guarantees equal freedom for all.
- Stresses that freedom of conscience includes the freedom to believe or not, practice or not, and change religion; calls on Nigerian authorities to strengthen these rights.
- Recalls that some member states still have blasphemy laws and urges them to repeal all such laws.
Who is affected
- Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian singer sentenced to death for blasphemy, would be released if the resolution is heeded.
- Nigerian authorities are called on to release him, repeal blasphemy laws, and investigate mob killings.
- EU member states are urged to repeal blasphemy and similar laws.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 19 paragraphs
B100101/2025
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu
(2025/2548(RSP))
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Nigeria,
– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
whereas Yahaya Sharif-Aminu is a Nigerian singer who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 by an Islamic court in Kano State, Nigeria, for allegedly committing blasphemy; whereas his case is currently on appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria;
whereas blasphemy-related allegations results in state-sanctioned prosecutions and in some cases in violent mobs, harassment or even extrajudicial killings in Nigeria ; whereas in 2022 for instance, Deborah Samuel, was lynched and burned to death by a mob ; whereas no one was prosecuted for her murder;
whereas blasphemy laws are in violation of its international human rights commitments, the African Charter and the Nigerian Constitution;
whereas blasphemy laws create a climate of terror and coercion;
whereas Section 39 of the 1999 secular Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, thought, and conscience; whereas however the country’s criminal law categorizes insults to religion as an offense ; whereas additionally Shari’a or Islamic law, which is applicable in 12 northern states, criminalizes blasphemy, with punishments including the death penalty ;
Urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and drop the appeal against the court of appeal’s quashing of his conviction;
Read the rest (7 paragraphs)
Strongly recommends to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards its full abolition and commute all sentences until then;
Invites national authorities to end impunity and ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of mob killings related to blasphemy;
Calls on the Nigerian authorities to swiftly repeal the blasphemy laws, as they are inconsistent with the national constitution and international human rights obligations which both guarantees religious freedom and freedom of expression;
Stresses legal systems based on religious prescriptions are incompatible with the freedom of conscience; further stresses that secularism, the emancipation of all religious control over society and the State, is the only value that guarantees all, whether believers, agnostics or atheists, equal freedom of conscience and public expression of convictions, subject only to democratic public order and respect for the freedom and rights of others;
Stresses that freedom of conscience, religion and belief includes the freedom to believe or not to believe, to practice or not to practice the religion of one's choice, and to abandon or change one's religion; calls on the Nigerian authorities to strengthen these rights ;
Recalls that in some Member States blasphemy and similar offences still exist and are still enforced; urges Member States to swiftly repeal all blasphemy, “religious insult” and similar laws;
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Nigerian authorities, the African Union, the EU institutions, the Member States and the United Nations Secretary-General.