Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic rights advocacy group, has condemned the killing of a butcher identified as Usman Buda in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria, for allegedly blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.
SaharaReporters had reported that the butcher was stoned to death by the residents of the state for allegedly making a blasphemous comment during an argument with another trader at the Sokoto main Abattoir around 8am on Sunday.
“Our leaders made a fruitless attempt to save him but they could not contain the crowd. They initially rescued him and hid him before they were overpowered.
“He was beaten to death by his fellow butchers. His corpse was later taken away by the police,” an eyewitness had said.
Another account said some of Buda’s closest business partners who attempted to rescue him sustained injuries and “are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.”
In response to the event, the Chairman of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Sokoto Branch, Muhammad Mansur Aliyu, issued a statement urging the Muslim Ummah to quit taking the law into their own hands every time there was an alleged blasphemy.
While there is no doubt that Islamic law provides the death penalty for anyone who insults, slanders, or brings disrepute to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him), Aliyu noted that it does not leave the killing in the hands of private individuals, as happened in the case of Usman Buda.
The statement read, “We assert that Islam abhors jungle justice, because it will lead to the taking of innocent lives and destruction of the properties of innocent persons. Islam does not allow people to do what they like or take laws into their hands as they deem fit. It is only the courts (Shariah and common law courts) that have powers to execute offenders after proving them guilty through fair trial; this position can be found in many Qur’anic verses such as Qur’an 4:65, 6:57, 12:40 and 43:10 etc.”
He explained that under Islamic law, blasphemy, like other offences, must be established through evidence by witnesses before a court of law, and the court must find such a person guilty of blasphemy before the government can carry out the punishment.
While condemning the murder, he asked Muslims to abandon jungle justice and let the law take its course whenever such issues arose.
