On August 10, Omar Farouq was convicted in a Sharia court in Kano State in northwest Nigeria, his "crime": using foul language toward Allah in an argument with a friend. Omar has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Omar is 13 years old.

Child rights agency UNICEF has condemned the sentencing. The same court that sentenced Omar recently sentenced a studio assistant Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, to death for blaspheming Prophet Mohammed, according to lawyers. Yahaya is 22 years old.

The African Charter of the Rights and Welfare of a Child and the Nigerian constitution is being violated by this prison sentence given to Omar.

It is with hope that an appeal can be mounted on Omar's behalf, and that his family can be protected.

Omar's lawyer has claimed: "Both Omar and Yahaya were convicted on the same day, by the same judge, in the same court, for blasphemy. Blasphemy is not recognized by Nigerian law. It is inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria."

The lawyer also said that Farouq's mother has fled to a neighboring town after mobs descended on their home following his arrest. "Everyone here is scared to speak and living under fear of reprisal attacks," he said.

UNICEF Wednesday issued a statement "expressing deep concern" about the sentencing. More needs to be done! 
"The sentencing of this child -- 13-year-old Omar Farouk -- to 10 years in prison with menial labour is wrong," said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in Nigeria. "It also negates all core underlying principles of child rights and child justice that Nigeria -- and by implication, Kano State -- has signed on to."
Kano State, like most predominantly Muslim states in Nigeria, practices Sharia law alongside secular law.

UNICEF has called on the Nigerian government and the Kano State government to urgently review the case and reverse the sentence, the organization said in a statement.
"This case further underlines the urgent need to accelerate the enactment of the Kano State Child Protection Bill so as to ensure that all children under 18, including Omar Farouq are protected -- and that all children in Kano are treated in accordance with child rights standards," Hawkins said.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/16/africa/blasphemy-nigeria-boy-sentenced-intl/index.html