An Islamic Sharia court in Kano State, Nigeria, has sentenced Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a 22-year-old singer, to death by hanging over an allegedly blasphemous song he shared on WhatsApp in March 2020. Yahaya's home had earlier been set ablaze by an angry youth mob who wanted to take matters into their own hands. They had also demanded that the state take drastic action on Yahaya or risk a massive backlash.

Nigeria is a secular democratic state, and freedom of expression, thought and religion are fundamental rights. Nobody should be killed over their expression about the tenets of any religion. It is people, not ideas, who have rights! If your religion cannot withstand critical evaluation without threatening violence or death, it does not belong in our modern society. This petition is for you, for me and for everyone who will express themselves in the future. It is for not just your voice and safety but also those of your children.

Repeal the obnoxious death sentence on Yahaya Sharif-Aminu and #CancelBlasphemyLaws for good in Nigeria!