Kano Sharia court sentence' Cleric to death for blasphemy

                                                     Islamic courts have their own police force in Kano 

Most Muslim residents in the northern Nigerian city of Kano have welcomed the ruling of an Islamic court to sentence to death a cleric for blaspheming Prophet Muhammad.

The residents said Abdul Inyass - a Muslim - had committed a serious crime for which Islamic law prescribed the death penalty.

Human rights groups have not yet commented on the ruling, but are likely to condemn it.

Mr Inyass is a preacher of a local faction of the Tijaniya sect, founded in Senegal by Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, who has a large following across West Africa.

Five other people, including a woman, were sentenced to death in June by the same court. Their sentencing led to some residents celebrating in the streets of Kano. 

Prosecutor Lamido Abba reported that the five were found guilty for organising the event where Mr Inyass made the derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad, and for agreeing with what he said and helping him to flee.

They are appealing against the ruling.

Five witnesses gave evidence against the group, and an audio recording of the preacher was also presented to the court, the prosecutor added.

Mr Inyass, who was arrested in the capital, Abuja, was represented at the trial by a senior lawyer who did not want his identity revealed because of the sensitivities around the case.

                                                                Tijaniya at a glance  

The Muslim Sufi sect of Tijaniya was founded in Algeria in 1784 by Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tijani.

It spread all over the world, with a large following in North and West Africa. It also has followers in South Africa, Indonesia and other parts of the world.

There are other Sufi sects in Islam but Tijaniya is the largest.

They say they have three main daily practices: Asking the forgiveness of God; sending prayers to the Prophet Muhammad and affirming the Oneness of Allah.

Senegalese-born Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse was credited with reviving the sect in the 20th Century. People travel from across the continent to visit his shrine.

They have several factions including the Haqiqa (Realist) group, whose members were convicted of blasphemy in Kano.