Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian publisher and activist, has demanded the immediate release of Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, an Islamic cleric, claiming that Kano State officials are persecuting him because of his religion.
Sowore posted this on his verified social media account, stating that he had intended to pay the cleric a visit while he was incarcerated but was troubled by the circumstances.
He wrote, “It is heartbreaking and completely unacceptable that a religious scholar remains behind bars simply because his teachings or interpretations differ from those preferred by those in power in Kano State.”
Recall that on December 15, 2022, an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano, presided over by Malam Ibrahim Sarki Yola, found Abduljabbar guilty of blasphemy and condemned him to death by hanging.
On August 10, October 25, and December 20, 2019, the preacher made derogatory remarks regarding Prophet Muhammad SAW. The Kano State Government prosecuted him on four charges.
According to Sowore, Nigeria must stop taking measures that stifle religious beliefs.
“Now is the time to put an end to religious persecution in Nigeria,” he declared.
He called on the federal government and human rights groups to intervene.
Additionally, he cautioned that Kabara’s prolonged arrest threatens the nation’s commitment to justice and freedom of speech, noting that no democracy can endure when the government determines what religious beliefs are acceptable.
