Sean Nelson calls out Rabiu Kwankwaso over Kano blasphemy laws
Senior Counsel Sean Nelson of ADF International has publicly called out former Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who served as Governor of Kano State over the state’s blasphemy laws which allow for capital punishment under certain circumstances. Nelson flagged the laws as draconian and deeply inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitutional protections for freedom of religion and expression.
Kano State’s Sharia-based penal code has sentenced individuals to death for alleged blasphemy, sparking international concern. For example, Yahaya Sharif‑Aminu, a musician, was sentenced to death for sharing a WhatsApp audio deemed blasphemous. His conviction was later overturned due to procedural flaws, but the retrial remains pending. Nelson described the case as emblematic of broader rights violations.
Although Kwankwaso’s administration was involved in enacting Sharia reforms including the 2000 Sharia and Islamic Administration of Justice Reform Law in Kano State. Nelson’s criticism is aimed at the enduring effect of such laws and the risk they pose to religious minorities, secularists, and freedom of belief more broadly.
Nelson emphasized that Nigeria is one of only a few countries where blasphemy can carry the death penalty and called on the Supreme Court of Nigeria to overturn these statutes to protect human rights.
