ICC Note: A Sharia court in Nigeria has sentenced a Sufi Muslim cleric to death by hanging for blasphemy, representing the first such sentencing in Nigeria according to that Islamic law that forbids insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. While the story involves Muslim convicts, it represents a significant blow to religious freedom in Nigeria and another place in the world where Christians will face increasing threats because of the radical and arbitrary nature of blasphemy charges. Nigeria joins places such as Pakistan and Sudan where bad Islamic blasphemy laws plague Christian and Muslim communities alike with a spirit of fear.

1/6/15 Kano, Nigeria (BBC) – An Islamic court has sentenced a Nigerian cleric to death by hanging for insulting the Prophet Muhammad in the northern city of Kano.

Abdulazeez Dauda, popularly known as Abdul Inyass, was convicted after a trial held in secret to avoid protests.

Five of his followers were also sentenced to death last year.

These are the first death sentences for blasphemy handed down by a Nigerian Sharia court; those delivered for other offences have not been carried out.

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