On Monday, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) condemned the killing of Usman Buda for allegedly making blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
In a statement released in Lagos, Mr. Muhammad Aliyu, the chairman of the MURIC for the Sokoto State, pleaded with the Muslim Ummah to refrain from taking laws into their own hands whenever there is an alleged act of blasphemy.
“The good people of Sokoto woke up and learnt about the murder of one butcher called Buda over an alleged blasphemous comment against our noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“Sources revealed that some of the victim’s closest business associates at Sokoto abattoir made frantic efforts to rescue him but they equally sustained injuries and have been admitted to the hospital due to the attack.
“We assert that Islam abhors jungle justice because it will lead to taking innocent lives and destruction of the property of persons unjustly.
“Islam does not allow people to do what they like or take laws into their hands as they deem fit,”he said.
The only courts with the authority to carry out executions after finding an accused guilty following a fair trial are those that follow Shariah law and Common law, he continued.
“It is not in dispute that Islamic law provides a death sentence against anybody, who insults, defames or brings disrepute to the Prophet of Islam Muhammad.
“However, Islamic law does not leave the killing open in the hands of private individuals as it happened in the case of Buda.
“In fact, Islamic law stipulates that the offence of blasphemy like other offences should be established through evidence by witnesses before a court of law,” he said.
“Finally, while we condemn the murder of Buda, we also in the strongest term, urge Muslims to stop jungle justice and allow the law to take its course,”he said.
