22-Year-Old Zamfara Woman Faces Death Sentence for Converting to Christianity

ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA — Zainab Muhamadu, a 22-year-old woman from Zamfara State, is facing the death penalty after being accused of apostasy for converting from Islam to Christianity. Her case, set to appear before a Sharia Court on Friday, has sparked renewed concern over religious freedom and human rights in northern Nigeria.

Zainab's conversion reportedly followed a spiritual relationship with a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member known as Pastor Samuel, who was serving in her community. According to sources familiar with the case, she embraced Christianity voluntarily, driven by a growing personal conviction. However, her decision triggered a swift and forceful response from local religious authorities, resulting in her immediate arrest.

In Zamfara and several other northern Nigerian states where Sharia law is practiced alongside the country’s secular legal system, apostasy is classified as a capital offense. Under these laws, individuals who convert from Islam may be sentenced to death unless they renounce their new faith within a specified period.

Zainab's family claims she is under intense pressure from authorities to recant her Christian faith or face execution. The case has drawn national and international attention, with human rights organizations urging Nigerian authorities to uphold the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

The incident comes amid rising tensions surrounding the enforcement of apostasy and blasphemy laws in the region. In April, Dr. Ibrahim Jalingo, Chairman of the Council of Ulama, reaffirmed support for the death penalty for apostasy, stating, “Whoever changes his religion, kill him,” citing Islamic jurisprudence.

Zainab’s situation echoes previous high-profile cases. In 2020, gospel singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy over lyrics shared on WhatsApp. That same year, 16-year-old Umar Farouk received a 10-year prison sentence for making remarks deemed insulting to Islam.

The outcome of Zainab Muhamadu’s trial is expected to fuel ongoing debate over the conflict between Nigeria’s constitutional protections of religious liberty and the parallel application of Sharia law in the north.