ECOWAS ruling: Rights group urges Kano to repeal blasphemy laws
Rights group, Rivers in the Desert Nigeria, has called on the Kano State Government to immediately repeal its controversial blasphemy laws following a recent ruling by the Economic Community of West African States Court, which deemed them unlawful and incompatible with fundamental human rights.
“It is unreasonable for any state to enforce religious laws that undermine the constitution and freedom in a country that thrives on its pluralism,” its Executive Director, Adekunle James, said in a statement signed Monday.
The group condemned Kano State’s continued defiance, describing it as “a matter of life, dignity, and Nigeria’s soul.”
The ECOWAS Court, in its landmark ruling delivered on April 9, 2025, invalidated Sections 210 and 382(b) of Kano State’s Penal and Sharia Codes.
RID Nigeria criticised the sections as “overly punitive and vague,” saying they were weaponised to silence dissenting voices and punish expressions of belief or disbelief.
The blasphemy laws in Kano gained international attention in 2020, following the sentencing of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a young musician condemned to death over a song shared on WhatsApp, deemed blasphemous.
Another significant case involved Omar Farouq, who at the age of 13 was handed a 10-year prison sentence for alleged blasphemy.
Farouq’s case triggered widespread outrage and forced authorities into a retrial.
“These stories are not ancient history—they are the lived reality of Nigeria in the 21st century,” RID Nigeria emphasised.
The group underscored Nigeria’s multi-religious composition, urging that national policies and governance must reflect this diversity to maintain the country’s fragile unity.
RID Nigeria also clarified that its stance is not against Islam, noting the Quranic emphasis on compassion, forgiveness, justice, and mercy.
It cautioned against misusing religious laws as instruments of fear or mob justice, stressing the moral responsibility of Kano State to respect human rights and uphold international obligations.
“By clinging to laws that violate both legal and moral principles, Kano jeopardises Nigeria’s unity,
her international standing, and endangers innocent lives.
“Religious laws must not become instruments of fear and mob justice,” the statement read.
The group urged the Federal Government to ensure compliance with the ECOWAS court ruling.
It appealed to the Kano State leadership to follow the examples of nations like Morocco and the UAE, focusing instead on policies that foster peaceful coexistence and socioeconomic development.
“RID Nigeria calls on the Federal Government to fulfil its duty and enforce the ECOWAS ruling.
“We urge Kano State to show leadership by repealing these provisions and replacing them with policies that promote peaceful coexistence, as seen in Morocco and other majority-Muslim nations, while also focusing on improving the quality of lives of its people and bringing development to the state, like the Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates,” James concluded.
