Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) has said Sharif-Aminu’s Constitutional rights were violated.

FRF made this statement on thursday after filing an appeal on behalf of Mr. Sharif-Aminu at the high court.

In a press release made available to BarristerNG, FRF noted that Mr. Sharif-Aminu was denied legal representation before and during the trial.

Read the full press statement below

Today, the Foundation for Religious Freedom filed an appeal on behalf of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. Mr. Sharif- Aminu was sentenced to death by hanging at the Upper Shari’a Court in the Hausawa Filin Hockey district on August 10, 2020 on a charge of blasphemy. The court gave Mr. Sharif-Aminu 30 days to appeal.

We note that Mr. Sharif-Aminu was not permitted legal representation before or during the trial and he has not been permitted access to legal advice in order to prepare an appeal.

It is the Foundation’s view that all citizens should be free to hold and manifest their religious beliefs, but citizens are not free to violate the secular laws of the country in which they reside. In this case, we believe Mr. Sharif-Aminu’s Constitutional rights were violated in several respects.

Accordingly, the Foundation has filed an appeal on Mr. Sharif-Aminu’s behalf and the Foundation will pursue this appeal to its conclusion.

—ENDS NOTES

Foundation for Religious Freedom (FRF) is a not-for-profit organization aimed at protecting religious freedom within Nigeria. Our mission is to advance religious freedom and national cohesion by promoting:

1. The freedom for individuals to practice and manifest their religion within the civil law.
2. Tolerance for people with alternative views.
3. Respect for the constitution, the rule of law and human rights above religious ideologies and practice
4. Freedom for individuals to change their religion or have no religion and to raise their children accordingly.