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Mubarak Bala, a prominent Nigerian atheist and outspoken critic of religion, has been released from prison after serving over four years on charges of blasphemy. Despite his freedom, Bala now faces grave safety concerns and is living in a safe house as his legal team works to ensure his protection.
The 40-year-old was convicted in 2022 by a court in Kano, a predominantly Muslim city in northern Nigeria, after pleading guilty to 18 charges related to a controversial Facebook post he shared in 2020. His initial 24-year sentence was later reduced by an appeals court judge, who deemed it “excessive.”
Upon his release in Abuja, Bala expressed mixed emotions, saying, “Freedom is here, but also there is an underlying threat I now have to face.”
During his incarceration, Bala faced significant risks, particularly in Kano’s prison, where he feared being targeted by guards or fellow inmates. Despite the hardships, he stands by his decision to plead guilty, believing it protected his family, friends, and legal team from further persecution.
Bala’s arrest and conviction sparked global outrage, with international human rights organizations condemning the case as a violation of freedom of speech. Leo Igwe, founder of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, described Bala’s release as bittersweet:
“Thanks, that he’s out, thanks that he’s a free man. But no thanks, because there is a dent on him as if he committed a crime. For us at the Humanist Association, he committed no crime.”
Nigeria’s dual legal system, which includes Islamic Sharia law in 12 northern states, considers blasphemy a punishable offense. This legal framework, coupled with Nigeria’s deeply religious society, has made life precarious for outspoken critics of religion like Bala.
Now free, Bala plans to rebuild his life and connect with his young son, who was just six weeks old at the time of his arrest. Reflecting on his activism, he remains resolute:
“My activism, my posting on social media—I always knew the worst would happen. I knew the dangers, and I still decided to do it,” he said.
