Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nigeria

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sufi

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: Death

Date of Detainment: July//2021

Date of Sentencing: December/15/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence

Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara

Extra Bio Info:

Sheikh Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara is imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.

In July 2021, authorities arrested Kabara, a cleric, and charged him with blasphemy and incitement. Charges were reportedly related to his “defamatory sermons” that are allegedly “mortifying [to] the companions and the Holy Prophet Muhammad.” His arrest also follows his participation in a debate on the precepts of Islam organized by the government. According to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, the charges against Kabara are only meant to prevent him from preaching, teaching, and conducting his religious activities because his religious opinions and beliefs differ from the governor and a Kano-based coalition of Islamic clerics. In February 2021, authorities banned Kabara from preaching. They also closed his mosque and affiliated religious schools pending investigation. State security forces subsequently prevented his followers from protesting the decision or holding the community's annual Mauqibi religious festival.

On December 15, 2022, an Upper Sharia Court in Kano sentenced Kabara to death reportedly for blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad. 

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