Continuing detention and risk of the death penalty for individuals in Nigeria charged with blasphemy, notably the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

In this non-legislative resolution, Parliament urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy over song lyrics, to drop all charges against him, guarantee his safety and due process, and ensure adequate access to food, clothing and medical treatment. It calls on the Supreme Court of Nigeria to ensure an expedited and fair appeals process and for the release of all others facing blasphemy allegations. Parliament recalls that blasphemy laws breach international human rights obligations, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Nigerian Constitution, and urges Nigeria to impose a nationwide moratorium on executions and work towards abolishing the death penalty. It calls on the EU and its Member States to raise these cases and blasphemy laws with the Nigerian authorities and to ensure diplomatic observation of legal proceedings, and instructs its President to forward the resolution to the Commission, the Council, the European External Action Service and VP/HR, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.