Opinion: Ganduje And The Death Warrant - Busy Brain
On August 10, 2020, an Upper Shari'a Court sitting at Hausawa Filin Hockey in Kano State sentenced a singer, Yahaya Sharif to death by hanging for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad in a song he released on social media. Sharif was accused of insulting the religious creed contrary to Section 382 (6) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law of year 2000. His song is said to have praised an imam from the Tijaniyah Muslim Brotherhood to the extent it elevated him above the Prophet Muhammad ( S.AW).
The hierarchical level of injustice displayed in the name of religion is that, since his conviction, he has been held incommunicado in detention with no access to legal representation and to his immediate family.
I was taught the definition of rule of law since in secondary school but it seems to be meaningless in Nigeria. The tenets and principles of rule of law are: supremacy of the law, equality before the law and the existence of fundamental human rights. In Nigeria, all these principles remain impotent, weak and feeble. The law is only supreme when it involves the nefarious grandeurs, the law is equal when the noble ones in the society are involved and the fundamental human rights are guaranteed if it revolves around people marauding the corridor of power. For the poor passes, the tenets and principles of rule of law are as useless as used sanitary pad. Apology to the ladies.
Despite the public outcry by civil societies and other concerned groups to Kano State Government to grant Sharif pardon for his misdemeanor, the people of Kano are busy pestering Governor Ganduje to sign his death warrant.
Before writing this opinion, I consulted different Islamic Scholars who are deep and sound in Islamic knowledge and all of them were on the same page. So, it is never said by the Holy Prophet to kill anyone that abuses him or practices other religion. During his lifetime, the prophet was abused by relatives and other members of his society but he never ordered for revenge nor did he order that they should be killed. It is a lie from the pit of hell and heap of rubbish to ascribe any type of extra-judicial killing to Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and Allah (God) is the all knowing who forgives His creatures for misdemeanors. Islam is one in the universe and its oneness preaches love, peace, unity and tranquility. Sentencing one to death by hanging or killing innocent people in the name of religion is aberrant and not in the doctrine of Islamic religion.
Till now, I'm still addled, muddled and befuddled that people of Kano could protest against blasphemy to defend Allah (God); the same state where bribery video of Mr. Governor took over the media. Despite the fact that the footage of bribery is in series, no one staged a protest against this to defend themselves from corruption; to demand for transparency and political accountability. It is pitiable that people who cannot defend themselves are defending God, the Almighty and most powerful.
Worse still, people claiming holiness are more terrible than the singer accused of blasphemy. These caliber of people have committed and still committing more loathsome sins worse than blasphemy. Many people were killed during electioneering. The outcome of Boko Haram's carnage and maiming is freedom. They were celebrated all in the name of rehabilitation and reintegration. They were praised and granted freedom for killing hundreds of people and relegating many to Internally Displaced Camps. Tell me, where is the rule of law when someone that is neither a terrorist nor bandit was sentenced to death because of blasphemy.
The fact still remains that no one knows his place in heaven and that is why it is so difficult to defend God. The judges, Governor and protesters cannot boast of making it to heaven. Killing the young man because of blasphemy does not mean he will go to hell. Only God can judge and decide who will make heaven or hell.
Tell Governor Ganduje to exercise patience on the death warrant. No one can defend God and His Prophets. Let the young man live, God is the master judge.
Busy Brain is an opinion writer, poet, journalist and Public Relations Practitioner
Usmanissa247@gmail.com
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