Piotr Cywinski, Director of Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has written a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the 10 year jail term verdict on 13-year-old Umar Farouq over blasphemy in Kano.
It should be recalled that the teenager was bagged the jail term for “using disparaging language on Allah” during an altercation with his friend.
Meanwhile Cywinski, a foreign activist, in the letter addressed to President Buhari sought for pardon for Farouq. He however stated that he and 119 volunteers would serve a month in Nigerian prison on behalf of Farouq if President Buhari is unable to intervene and get Farouq pardoned.
Part of the letter reads: “I permit myself to write to you personally about a young boy named Omar Farouq, who was convicted recently in a Sharia court in Kano State in north-west Nigeria after being accused of blasphemy used during an argument with a friend,” he said.
“I wish to request the pardon of this 13 year old boy. Regardless of what he said, he cannot be treated as fully aware and responsible, given his age.
“If it turns out that the words of this child absolutely require 120 months of imprisonment, and even you are not able to change that, I suggest that in place of the child, 120 adult volunteers from all over the world, gathered by us myself personally among them should each serve a month in a Nigerian prison.
“In total, the price for the child’s transgression will be the same, and we will all avoid the worst.
“If you agree to grant clemency, or to the above proposal in lieu of punishment, I will make an attempt to provide financial help for the boy’s proper education. This way, instead of a destroyed young man, Nigeria will gain an aware and educated young citizen.
“You will undoubtedly agree with the statement that human rights begin with the rights of the child. I kindly ask you to consider my proposal favorably.”
Check out the letter below.
