…Activists Condemn Nigeria’s Blasphemy Laws
Mubarak Bala, an atheist and former President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, has regained his freedom after spending nearly four-and-a-half years in detention for blasphemy.
Bala was arrested on 28 April 2020, at his residence in Kaduna following complaints of blasphemous Facebook posts deemed critical of Islam, Allah, and Prophet Mohammed. He was subsequently transferred to Kano State, where he faced accusations of incitement and breaching public peace.
In 2022, a Kano State High Court sentenced Bala to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to an 18-count charge, including blasphemy and incitement.
Speaking to the BBC after his release, he said he had pleaded guilty to protect himself and others linked to his case.
“I believe that what I did then was saving not only my life but people in the state and especially those that were attached to my case, because they were also targets,” he said.
However, an appellate court later reduced the sentence to five years, describing the initial punishment as excessive and in contravention of the law.
Bala’s detention drew international attention, with numerous human rights organisations, including Humanists UK, condemning the procedural irregularities in his case.
Bala was reportedly held without charge for over a year, denied access to his lawyers and family, and subjected to delays in trial.
Though free, Bala still expressed concerns about his safety, saying, “The freedom is here but also, there is an underlying threat that I will now have to face, probably all those years those threats are maybe out there while I was under the security system. The concern about my safety is always there.”
Bala’s release has been welcomed by Humanists UK, who have long campaigned for his freedom.
Chief Executive Andrew Copson described it as a relief but emphasised that his imprisonment was “an outrageous denial of the fundamental rights guaranteed by Nigeria’s own constitution.”
He sounded the alarm on the need to repeal blasphemy laws globally, noting, “12 countries still have the death penalty for the so-called crime of blasphemy, including Nigeria, and in 58 more countries you could go to prison.”
Copson vowed to continue advocating for freedom of religion and belief worldwide, saying “We will continue to campaign for the repeal of all blasphemy laws and for the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief for everyone, everywhere.”
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