Blasphemy: After release from jail, Bala raises fear over safety

An atheist, Mubarak Bala, has raised concerned about his safety after he regained freedom.

Reports revealed that Bala regained his freedom after spending four years in prison for blasphemy.

Bala was arrested on April 28, 2020, at his home in Kaduna and taken to Kano after allegation of blasphemy and incitement were filed against him.

He was accused of breaching public peace and inciting outrage among Muslims.

His case drew international attention, with human rights organisations expressing concerns about his safety and Nigeria’s commitment to freedom of expression.

In 2022, a Kano State High Court sentenced him to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to an 18-count charge, including blasphemy and incitement.

Before his sentencing, Bala, who was the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, had spent two years in detention awaiting trial.

However, his sentence was later reduced after an appellate court deemed it excessive.

Speaking with the BBC on Tuesday about his safety after release, Bala said he is being housed in a secure location due to alleged threats of harm against him.

He said, “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.”

When asked why he pleaded guilty to the charges in 2022, Bala said his decision was driven by a desire to protect himself and others connected to the case.