Nigerian Atheist Mubarak Bala is Released From Prison Amid Ongoing Safety Fears

Mubarak Bala, a prominent Nigerian atheist convicted on blasphemy charges, has been released from prison but now lives under the constant threat of violence due to his beliefs. Despite his newfound freedom, Bala expresses fears for his safety in a country where religious sentiments can turn deadly.

Mubarak Bala, a 40-year-old Nigerian atheist, has been released from prison after serving over four years for blasphemy, but he now resides in a safe house due to concerns for his safety. Bala was convicted in Kano after a surprise guilty plea to 18 charges related to a Facebook post he shared in 2020. During an exclusive interview, he expressed that the fear for his life is palpable.

"Nigeria is a deeply religious society, and those perceived as insulting either Islam or Christianity face serious repercussions," he stated. With blasphemy classified as an offense under Sharia law and Nigeria’s secular legal framework, Bala’s situation exemplifies the severe risks faced by dissidents in the nation.

Having renounced Islam back in 2014, Bala recounted the harrowing years he spent behind bars, during which he occasionally believed he would not make it out alive. "Freedom is here, but also there is an underlying threat I now have to face. All those years, those threats, maybe they're out there," he remarked.

Bala's initial 24-year sentence was mitigated by an appeals court judge, who deemed it excessive. Upon his release from prison in Abuja, he wore a cheerful demeanor despite looking worn down, often reflecting, "Everything is new to me. Everything is new." He maintained his stance that his guilty plea was a strategic move to alleviate pressures on his supporters.

International rights groups condemned his conviction, highlighting ongoing debates about freedom of speech in Nigeria. His release was met with relief by both friends and advocates, yet anxiety over his safety remains. "It's thanks and no thanks," observed Leo Igwe, founder of the Humanist Association of Nigeria.

Despite the traumas of imprisonment, Bala aims to reunite with his young son, who was a mere six weeks old at the time of his arrest. "I have no regrets," he concluded, acknowledging the dangers of his activism but believing in its necessity, stating, "When I made the decision to come out, I knew I could be killed.”