An Upper Sharia Court, Rijiyar Lemo, in Kano, has sentenced two persons, Abdul-Inyas and Hajiya Mairo, to death for blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam.
The offence, committed in early June, triggered protest in Kano. The demonstration was however promptly quelled by law enforcement agents.
A statement by the State Sharia Court of Appeal, signed by a man named Nasiru, said the two persons were found guilty under section 110 and section 382b of the Sharia Penal Court law year 2000.
“They are hereby sentenced to death,” the statement read.
The statement acknowledged that some Muslim faithful in Kano threatened violence if the accused were set free.
The court however freed Alkasim Abubakar, Yahya Abubakar, Isa Abubakar, and Abdullahi Abubakar, who were arrested alongside the two convicted persons.
They were found not guilty by the court.
Already, news of the judgment has sparked jubilation by a section of Kano residents. [myad]
