Update
Outrage As Sharia Court Sentences 13 Year Old Boy To 10 Years In Prison For Blasphemy
Sharia law
An underaged boy has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a Sharia court in Kano state for blasphemy.
Omar Farouq – a 13-year-old boy (A minor in the eyes of the law), was arraigned before a Sharia court in Kano State and given a verdict of 13 years imprisonment with menial labour. This happened after he was accused of using foul language toward Allah in an argument with a friend.
According to his counsel; Kola Alapinni, who filed for an appeal on his behalf, the punishment that was meted out to him is in violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter of the Rights and Welfare of a Child.
“Re: Omar Farouq On Monday, 7th September 2020 we on behalf of the Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) successfully filed an appeal with number K/40CA/2020 on behalf of Omar Farouq at the Kano State High Court.
“Re: Omar Farouq On Monday, 7th September 2020 we on behalf of the Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) successfully filed an appeal with number K/40CA/2020 on behalf of Omar Farouq at the Kano State High Court.
Omar Farouq is a 13-year-old boy (A minor in the eyes of the Law) sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with menial labour for blasphemy. In the same Sharia court in Filin Hockey, Kano, Nigeria. By the same judge that sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. Both boys were convicted….
Both boys were convicted the same day. This is a violation of the African Charter of the Rights And Welfare of a Child. A violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Kano State Government will have their day in court.”
Re: Omar Farouq
On Monday, 7th September 2020 we on behalf of the Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) successfully filed an appeal with number K/40CA/2020 on behalf of Omar Farouq at the Kano State High Court.@UNHumanRights @NigBarAssoc @ChidiOdinkalu @OlumideAkpata— Kola Alapinni (@FelaLives) September 9, 2020
Omar Farouq is a 13 year old boy (A minor in the eyes of the Law) sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with menial labour for blasphemy. In the same Sharia court in Filin Hockey, Kano, Nigeria. By the same judge that sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. Both boys were convicted….
— Kola Alapinni (@FelaLives) September 9, 2020
Both boys were convicted the same day.
This is a violation of the African Charter of the Rights And Welfare of a Child. A violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Kano State Government will have their day in court. #sharia @Uni_EssexAlumni @EssexHRC— Kola Alapinni (@FelaLives) September 9, 2020
UNICEF has condemned the sentencing. the UNICEF representative in Nigeria; Peter Hawkins, condemned the verdict by saying the 10 years prison sentence with menial labour is wrong and negates all core underlying principles of child Right and child justice signed in Nigeria.
Nigerians react:
The Nigerian Elite class is Hypocritical/Evil/Callous.
And the Northern Elite seems to be fighting to take the first position when it comes to wickedness combined with backwardness.
These laws are made to affect only the poor.
Nigeria runs dual constitutions.#EndChildAbuse pic.twitter.com/hl5ZOYeO9S
— iSERVE 2050 | #LeadershipMatters Nwanyịbùífé?#ABC (@iSERVE2050) September 16, 2020
This blasphemy madness in Northern Nigeria is one of the reasons Nigeria cannot be united. The religious beliefs of northern Muslims is extremist and dangerous and Southern Christians cannot embrace such crassness in this modern day.
— ${Tech_bro} (@kcnaija) September 17, 2020
When a governor was caught on carema receiving dollars and pocketing his hand was not cut off to make things balanced
— SAY NO TO SUPER LEAGUE ???? (@RaphJ12) September 17, 2020
13 years sentenced for 10years on grounds of blasphemy reinforces the narration that the law only punishes the poor. No ground is this right and even If there is any, it should be at the least from one who has come to equity with clean hands. Sad!?
— gugu systems (@gugusystems) September 17, 2020
We call on the international community to step in and put an end to this. Nigeria is a country state in which blasphemy does not constitute an offence. I just cannot imagine the state of that poor child.
— Queen Olajumoke (@Dupeadu1) September 16, 2020
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