Mubarak Bala, a Nigerian activist was just arrested. We’re here to tell you what we know. If you’re on any social platform (especially Twitter), you’ve probably seen the hashtag #FreeMubarakBala trending. Here are the facts:
1. Mubarak Bala is a Nigerian and he’s atheist:
A quick google search of irreligion in Nigeria will reveal this on Wikipedia. He was locked up in a mental health institution in 2014, after saying he didn’t believe in God.
2. He is the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria
The Humanist Association Nigeria is an association that is pro the humanist movement, uniting a diversity of non-religious individuals.
3. He was arrested by the police in Kaduna State.
He was arrested by two police officers who were not in uniform, at his residence. His arrest followed a petition by a group of lawyers to the Commissioner of Police in Kano State to prosecute him.
4. His crime? Blasphemy.
As seen in the petition above, he was arrested for insulting Prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page.
Now we might not be experts at the law, but we’re pretty sure Blasphemy is not a criminal offence and that the Nigerian constitution in Section 38 entitles every Nigerian to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and in Section 39 gives every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression.
5. There seem to be plans to transfer him to Kano
He is currently detained at the Gbabasawa Police Station in Kaduna, but there’s currently unconfirmed news that he’ll be transferred to Kano.
6. Human Rights Activists everywhere have spoken up against his arrest:
In conclusion, Mubarak Bala is a Nigerian man, who doesn’t believe in God and has been arrested for a crime that doesn’t exist under the law.