Aug 11, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

USCIRF Condemns Death Sentence for Yahaya Sharif-Aminu on Blasphemy Charges

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the death sentence announced on August 10 of 22-year-old Nigerian singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a song he circulated on the messaging platform WhatsApp in March.

“Blasphemy laws are inconsistent with universal human rights standards because they fail to respect recognized rights, including freedom of religion and expression,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins. “The Nigerian government must overturn Sharif-Aminu’s death sentence and repeal blasphemy laws still present in state-sponsored courts.”

Sharif-Aminu’s verdict was passed by a Shari’a court in Kano state, which is one of twelve states in Nigeria where Shari’a courts operate in parallel with secular state courts. These courts have periodically handed down death sentences, including for blasphemy, though these rulings are rarely carried out.

USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie stated, “It is unconscionable that Sharif-Aminu is facing a death sentence merely for expressing his beliefs artistically through music. The U.S. Senate should work swiftly to pass S.Res. 458, which calls for the global repeal of heresy, blasphemy, and apostasy laws.”

In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, under the International Religious Freedom Act for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

USCIRF has also expressed concern about blasphemy laws in Africa and state enforcement of Shari’a laws in northern Nigeria. To learn more, read the reports: Blasphemy, Apostasy, and Hate Speech Laws in Africa and Shari’ah Criminal Law in Northern Nigeria.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Danielle Ashbahian at [email protected].

Additional Name(s): Sukhrab Abdulgamidovich Kaltuyev, Калтуев Сухраб Абдулгамидович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/7/2017

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Sukhrab Kaltuyev

Extra Bio Info:

Sukhrab Kaltuyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 14, 2016, authorities arrested Kaltuyev for reading religious writings of theologian Said Nursi and discussing them as part of a group.

On September 4, 2016, Kaltuyev was released from pre-trial detention and placed under travel restrictions.

On November 7, 2017, the Lenin District Court in Makhachkala sentenced Kaltuyev to four years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC). Prosecutors accused him of starting a "Nurdjular" cell.  Kaltuyev was taken into custody following the verdict.

There are conflicting reports about when Kaltuyev was released.  Forum 18 reported he was released in the summer of 2019, whereas the Memorial Human Rights Center no longer listed him in its religious prisoners of conscience list following the full completion of his sentence in 2020.

Related Cases: Ziyavdin Dapayev, Artur Kaltuyev

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Artur Abdulgamidovich Kaltuyev, Калтуев Артур Абдулгамидович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Sentencing: November/7/2017

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Artur Kaltuyev

Extra Bio Info:

Artur Kaltuyev was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On November 7, 2017, the Lenin District Court in Makhachkala sentenced Kaltuyev to three years in prison for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC). Kaltuyev's criminal prosecution stems from his reading religious writings of theologian Said Nursi and discussing them as part of a group. Prosecutors accused him of starting a "Nurdjular" cell. Kaltuyev was taken into custody following the verdict. 

In 2020, Kaltuyev was reportedly released following the completion of his sentence.

Related Cases: Ziyavdin Dapayev, Sukhrab Kaltuyev

Publicly Available Information:
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