Muslim Group Reacts To Burning Of Student Over Blasphemy

The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has reacted to the lynching and burning of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State.

Deborah was burnt to death on Thursday by an angry mob who alleged that she blasphemed against the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad.

In a statement titled: 'Blasphemy: Killing Through Jungle Justice Is Anti-Islam, Barbaric', the group maintained that her gruesome killing is against the teachings of the Qur'an.

The National President of MMPN, Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja, described the case of mob killing of the girl in Sokoto as a criminal offence in Islamic law.

Quoting the Islamic Holy Book, the National President of MMPN, Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja said, "Allah says in Qur'an 5 verse 32 thus: ... We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people...

"So the punishment for any offence in Islamic law is decided by a judge. No other member of the public has that jurisdiction.

"In essence, it is a criminal offence in the Shari'ah of Islam for anyone or any group to take the law into their hands.

"Even if it is a crime committed against the state, it is when the specific punishment is prescribed in the Qur'an or Hadith, only a competent judge of a Shari'ah court is allowed to approve of the witnesses and evidence, and to give the sentence for the execution of the appropriate punishment."

He prayed for the soul of the deceased to find rest in God.