Activist Mubarak Bala Released as Fears Over His Safety Persist
Mubarak Bala, a prominent Nigerian atheist and outspoken critic of religion, has been released from prison after serving over four years for blasphemy. However, his newfound freedom is clouded by fears for his safety. Bala, 40, is now living in a safe house as his legal team remains concerned about potential threats to his life.
Bala was convicted in Kano, a predominantly Muslim city, after pleading guilty to 18 charges related to a controversial Facebook post from 2020. His plea shocked even his legal team but was aimed at reducing pressure on his supporters.
“The concern about my safety is always there,” Bala told the BBC during his first meal as a free man. He revealed that during his time in prison, particularly in Kano, he feared for his life due to the hostile environment. “Freedom is here, but also there is an underlying threat I now have to face,” he said.
Bala’s 24-year sentence was reduced last year by an appeals court judge who called the initial punishment “excessive.” His release has been welcomed by international rights groups but has reignited debates about freedom of speech in Nigeria, a deeply religious society where blasphemy is a punishable offence under both Islamic (Sharia) and criminal law.
Leo Igwe, founder of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, expressed mixed feelings about Bala’s release. “Thanks that he’s free, but no thanks for the stigma he now carries as if he committed a crime,” he said.
Bala, who renounced Islam in 2014, says he has no regrets about his activism, even though it came at great personal cost. His focus now is on rebuilding his life, including reconnecting with his son, who was an infant when he was imprisoned
ALSO READ ;Raila’s Aggressive Campaign Targets Southern Africa Bloc
Activist Mubarak Bala Released as Fears Over His Safety Persist
