The European Parliament passed a much-needed resolution highlighting the perilous effects of some of the most dangerous free-speech restrictions on the planet—blasphemy laws. In an urgent resolution, the parliament called for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian musician, who was sentenced to death for sharing a message containing allegedly ‘blasphemous’ song lyrics on WhatsApp in 2020. It is high time that the international community rally around the cause to free Yahaya and end blasphemy laws.
A Sufi Muslim in his twenties, Yahaya is incarcerated and awaiting his appeal, which is pending before Nigeria’s Supreme Court. This potentially precedent-setting case could overturn blasphemy laws in Nigeria and, hopefully, inspire governments across the world to do the same. This ruling would align Nigeria with international human rights law and with its own constitutional protections for religious freedom. Overturning the country’s blasphemy regime would provide enormous relief to minority faith groups whose right to speak freely and live their faith is severely impaired. Nobody should be punished, much less killed, for peacefully expressing their convictions.
Free speech is a fundamental human right. The audio message Yahaya shared contained self-composed lyrics in which he referenced a 19th-century imam revered in his particular tradition of Sufi Islam. He was accused of placing the Imam above the prophet Mohammed, and has languished for years in prison. He was initially sentenced to death by the lower court. His life, and the future of religious freedom and free speech in Nigeria, is now in the hands of the supreme court.
Worldwide, 79 countries have blasphemy laws. For most of these countries, these laws are dusty relics in their legal systems. However, in seven countries, including Nigeria, they often are leveraged to target minority faith groups. Christians, for example, are systematically oppressed and live in very real fear of both mob violence and criminal sanctions for expressing their beliefs. Tragically, more Christians are killed in Nigeria than in all countries of the world combined. Blasphemy laws compound and bolster this culture of violence.
In its resolution, the European Parliament calls on “Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya,” and urges them “to uphold human rights throughout the country by ensuring that federal and state law and Sharia do not deny Nigerians protection under the national Constitution and international conventions.” The resolution notes“that Nigeria has immense influence throughout Africa and the Muslim world … this case is an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way towards abolishing blasphemy law.”
Secular Blasphemy Laws
This type of international pressure should be applauded. However, EU institutions must be consistent in their defense of free expression. It is disingenuous, and deeply ideological, to advocate for Yahaya’s freedom while simultaneously considering the elevation of ‘hate speech’ to an EU crime. While the consequences may differ, the roots of oppressive censorship are one and the same. ‘Hate speech’ laws are a secular equivalent to blasphemy laws—both hinder people from living and speaking freely.
In December 2021, the European Commission presented an initiative to extend the list of EU crimes to include hate speech. EU crimes are “particularly serious” crimes with a “cross-border dimension” that require all member states to have the same minimum standards to combat them. Considering the extensive implications this has for national governments, the current list of EU crimes is understandably short, including heinous offenses such as terrorism, trafficking of human beings, weapons, drugs, and organised crime. The matter is now pending. ‘Hate speech’ should never be categorized as a crime of this magnitude.
As evidenced by what is transpiring in Europe—see the ongoing case against Päivi Räsänen and arrests for thought crimes in the UK—it is clear that we are living in a moment of escalating global censorship. Nigeria is far from alone in suppressing freedom of expression. As Yahaya awaits his day at the Supreme Court, it is imperative that the international community stand united against blasphemy laws. Everyone stands to lose when fundamental freedoms are violated. Nigeria now has the chance to set a crucial precedent and kickstart the abolishment of these perilous laws.
Blasphemy Laws and ‘Hate Speech’: Free Speech at a Crossroads
The European Parliament passed a much-needed resolution highlighting the perilous effects of some of the most dangerous free-speech restrictions on the planet—blasphemy laws. In an urgent resolution, the parliament called for the release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian musician, who was sentenced to death for sharing a message containing allegedly ‘blasphemous’ song lyrics on WhatsApp in 2020. It is high time that the international community rally around the cause to free Yahaya and end blasphemy laws.
A Sufi Muslim in his twenties, Yahaya is incarcerated and awaiting his appeal, which is pending before Nigeria’s Supreme Court. This potentially precedent-setting case could overturn blasphemy laws in Nigeria and, hopefully, inspire governments across the world to do the same. This ruling would align Nigeria with international human rights law and with its own constitutional protections for religious freedom. Overturning the country’s blasphemy regime would provide enormous relief to minority faith groups whose right to speak freely and live their faith is severely impaired. Nobody should be punished, much less killed, for peacefully expressing their convictions.
Free speech is a fundamental human right. The audio message Yahaya shared contained self-composed lyrics in which he referenced a 19th-century imam revered in his particular tradition of Sufi Islam. He was accused of placing the Imam above the prophet Mohammed, and has languished for years in prison. He was initially sentenced to death by the lower court. His life, and the future of religious freedom and free speech in Nigeria, is now in the hands of the supreme court.
Worldwide, 79 countries have blasphemy laws. For most of these countries, these laws are dusty relics in their legal systems. However, in seven countries, including Nigeria, they often are leveraged to target minority faith groups. Christians, for example, are systematically oppressed and live in very real fear of both mob violence and criminal sanctions for expressing their beliefs. Tragically, more Christians are killed in Nigeria than in all countries of the world combined. Blasphemy laws compound and bolster this culture of violence.
In its resolution, the European Parliament calls on “Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Yahaya,” and urges them “to uphold human rights throughout the country by ensuring that federal and state law and Sharia do not deny Nigerians protection under the national Constitution and international conventions.” The resolution notes“that Nigeria has immense influence throughout Africa and the Muslim world … this case is an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way towards abolishing blasphemy law.”
Secular Blasphemy Laws
This type of international pressure should be applauded. However, EU institutions must be consistent in their defense of free expression. It is disingenuous, and deeply ideological, to advocate for Yahaya’s freedom while simultaneously considering the elevation of ‘hate speech’ to an EU crime. While the consequences may differ, the roots of oppressive censorship are one and the same. ‘Hate speech’ laws are a secular equivalent to blasphemy laws—both hinder people from living and speaking freely.
In December 2021, the European Commission presented an initiative to extend the list of EU crimes to include hate speech. EU crimes are “particularly serious” crimes with a “cross-border dimension” that require all member states to have the same minimum standards to combat them. Considering the extensive implications this has for national governments, the current list of EU crimes is understandably short, including heinous offenses such as terrorism, trafficking of human beings, weapons, drugs, and organised crime. The matter is now pending. ‘Hate speech’ should never be categorized as a crime of this magnitude.
As evidenced by what is transpiring in Europe—see the ongoing case against Päivi Räsänen and arrests for thought crimes in the UK—it is clear that we are living in a moment of escalating global censorship. Nigeria is far from alone in suppressing freedom of expression. As Yahaya awaits his day at the Supreme Court, it is imperative that the international community stand united against blasphemy laws. Everyone stands to lose when fundamental freedoms are violated. Nigeria now has the chance to set a crucial precedent and kickstart the abolishment of these perilous laws.
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