BEVERLY HILLS, September 17, (THEWILL) – The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has condemned the judgment of a Sharia court in Kano that ordered the conviction of a 13-year old boy Omar Farouq to ten years imprisonment over alleged blasphemy.
UNICEF in a statement by its Representative to Nigeria, Peter Hawkins said the judgement negates all core underlying principles of child rights and child justice that Nigeria and by implication, Kano State are signatories to.
‘The sentence is in contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Nigeria ratified in 1991. It is also a violation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which Nigeria ratified in 2001 – and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act 2003, which domesticates Nigeria’s international obligations to protect children’s right to life, survival and development”, the statement said.
The agency called on the Nigerian Government and the Kano State Government to urgently review the case with a view to reversing the sentence. The Agency expressed appreciation of the strides recently made by the Kano State House of Assembly to pass the Kano State Child Protection Bill but further emphasised the urgent need to accelerate its enactment into law as to ensure that all children under 18, including Omar Farouq are protected and treated in accordance with child rights standards.
“UNICEF will continue to provide support to the Nigerian Government and Kano State Government on child protection system strengthening, including justice sector reform, to ensure that states put in place child-sensitive measures to handle cases involving children”, the statement added
The child rights organization stressed the Government’s international obligations to ensure child-sensitive judicial measures for children who are alleged to have committed any offence.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mohammed Lawal Gusau, the proprietor of Ma’ahad Wa Masjid Li Marhoom Mohammed Lawal Gusau has applied to the Attorney General of Kano State for a ‘fiat order’ to join in the prosecution of Yahaya Sharif Aminu up to the Supreme Court if need be.
In a letter addressed to the Kano AG, dated 14th day of September, 2020 by his Lawyer, Abubakar A. Ashat, Esq, Gusau noted that he has a desire to render selfless service towards the advancement and uplifment of the goals and ideals of Islam in all positive human endeavours.
“Following the blasphemous song prosecution and conviction of Yahaya Sharif Aminu, our Client ardently followed the case until Judgement was entered after convicting and sentencing him”, the letter added
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician was sentenced to death by a Kano State Shari’a court for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad in a song he circulated via WhatsApp. He was accused of committing the offence in March 2020 after which protesters burnt down his family house.
