A young musician in northern Nigeria’s Kano state has been sentenced to death by hanging for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. An Upper Shariah Court found Yahaya Sharif, 22, guilty for circulating a song described as insulting Prophet Muhammad on WhatsApp in March. Lawan Muhammad of Kano state’s religious police, Hisbah, told The Associated Press Tuesday he is satisfied with the judgment. Kano is one of about 12 states in Northern Nigeria where Shariah law is in place. Many people have been condemned to death under Shariah law since it was first introduced in Kano in 1999, but so far only one execution has been carried out.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 11, 2020 12:56 UTC