- Safiu Kehinde
Amnesty International has called for the release of woman, Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif, arraigned before a Sharia court for criticizing Sokoto state government.
The humanitarian group made the call in a statement issued on its official X handle on Monday.
According to Amnesty International, Sidi is set to be arraigned before a Sharia court in Achida area of the state after being charged by the state government for allegedly “inciting women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties.”
Since her video where she called out the state’s governor went viral, Sidi has been subjected to life threatening phone calls and was abducted after release from detention.
Amnesty, in their statement, recounted how Sidi was abducted and physically assaulted before being thrown out of a moving tricycle by thugs allegedly sponsored by the state government.
The statement read in part; “Today Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif is set to be arraigned before a sharia court in Achida Sokoto state.
“The government of Sokoto state is bizarrely charging her for “inciting women against the government by telling them to forcefully take over government properties.”
“Since her video went viral on social media she has been receiving many phone calls threatening her life.
“Sokoto state government and the Nigeria Police must drop the bogus charges against Hamdiyya Sidi Sharif and allow her to freely exercise the right to freedom of expression.
“Hamdiyya was abducted by armed men and whisked into a tricycle on Wednesday 13 November in Achida while going to collect her mobile phone from a charging point.
“She was beaten and thrown out of a moving tricycle and left with severe injuries.
“Sokoto state Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s frightening intolerance of dissenting voices through heavy handed clampdown on critics is unacceptable in a free society.
“No one should be punished solely for expressing an opinion that is contrary to that of government.”