Fears for Nigerian humanist held for blasphemy in sharia state

[danieldemol]

‘A prominent Nigerian humanist accused of blasphemy has been arrested and taken to the northern city of Kano, according to figures close to him.

Mubarak Bala, the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was taken from his home on 28 April in neighbouring Kaduna state and taken to Kano, where a warrant for his arrest was issued, Leo Igwe, a fellow Nigerian humanist and human rights advocate, said.

“We condemn his arrest and are extremely worried because this came after several threats made by the religious community in Kano,” Igwe said. “They are likely to try him under sharia law in Kano, which could lead to capital punishment.”’...

...’Bala, the son of a widely regarded Islamic scholar, has been an outspoken religious critic in a staunchly conservative region, where open religious dissent is uncommon. After renouncing Islam in 2014, he was forcibly committed to a psychiatric facility by his family in Kano before being discharged.

After Bala posted comments critical of Islam and religion on his Facebook profile recently he had received a surge of online accusations of blasphemy and threats, Igwe said, largely from figures in Kano.’

Read more here: Fears for Nigerian humanist held for blasphemy in sharia state

 

[Aupmanyav]

He should have moved out of Nigeria.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

And sharia law should move out from the whole world, it should be abolished.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I would not comment on Shariah, it is for the Muslims to follow, change or abandon that. But people have been killed in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. for opposing orthodox views. People should be careful.

 

[epronovost]

He should have moved out of Nigeria.

He wanted to change and better Nigeria. Plus, it's not exactly easy or quick to leave a country. Immigrating to another country legally usually takes around 3 to 5 years and sometime a lot longer that's if you don't flee as an asylum seeker or refugee, but the western world has closed it's doors to many of those since the Syrian Civil War began.

 

[danieldemol]

And sharia law should move out from the whole world, it should be abolished.

I would say aspects of it should be abolished, and aspects of it should be removed from the law of the land to personal honour codes but I think on a general level I agree with your statement.

 

[Hellbound Serpiente]

I would say aspects of it should be abolished, and aspects of it should be removed from the law of the land to personal honour codes but I think on a general level I agree with your statement.

I personally think ALL the Abrahamic religions should either be reformed or be abolished. But that's just me, not sure what others think

I would not comment on Shariah, it is for the Muslims to follow, change or abandon that. But people have been killed in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. for opposing orthodox views. People should be careful.

I beg to differ. Everyone should make a logical assessment of Shariah [and Islam in general] and give their constructive feedback [comment] on it. This is how we grow and progress, through learning. The problem with Shariah is, a lot of innocent non-Muslims, homosexuals, apostates, and many others are significantly affected by it [dare I say, suffer because of it, all you have to do is study history of it]. We all will be affected by Shariah if it's established anywhere near us [or even far from us, as I personally believe injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere].

And this is coming from an ex-Muslim who has already lived his life in hell-holes you mentioned. We, as mature sensible individuals, should carefully and honestly analyze ideologies as destructive as these. It's about the truth, justice and peace everywhere. Fate of the earth is at stake here

 

[Aupmanyav]

In that case, you are not talking of Islam (the Submission). You are raising your head, which needs to be severed.

 

[danieldemol]

‘Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed its deep concern regarding the recent arrest of Mubarak Bala, president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria...

...USCIRF Chair Tony Perkins stated, “USCIRF is alarmed by this arrest, which appears to be for Mubarak Bala’s peaceful exercise of his rights to both freedom of expression and freedom of belief. The fact that Kano State frequently enforces Shari’a law makes the situation particularly worrisome. Nigerian authorities must immediately clarify Mr. Bala’s situation, ensure his safety, and provide him the full protections he is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and international law.”’

Read more here: USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala

 

[danieldemol]

‘Rights experts urge Nigeria to free humanist detained for blasphemy’

‘Nigerian authorities must immediately release prominent humanist and rights defender Mubarak Bala, who has been detained for more than two months without charge on accusations of blasphemy, a group of independent UN human rights experts said on Friday.

“The arrest and detention of Mr. Bala amounts to persecution of non-believers in Nigeria”, they said. “We are concerned that he may be prosecuted under anti-blasphemy laws that provide for capital punishment in Nigeria.”’

Read more here: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/07/1068951

 

[danieldemol]

'
Outspoken Atheist, Arrested in Nigeria for Blasphemy, Hasn’t Been Seen Since
Mubarak Bala, head of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was seized by the police and has disappeared in custody. Other Nigerian nonbelievers fear more detentions are coming'

Read more here: Outspoken Atheist, Arrested in Nigeria for Blasphemy, Hasn’t Been Seen Since

 

[danieldemol]

USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie Adopts Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu of Nigeria through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project

Read more here: USCIRF Commissioner Frederick A. Davie Adopts Mubarak Bala and Yahaya Sharif-Aminu of Nigeria through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project​

 

[danieldemol]

'Following months of delays, Mubarak Bala is to have his day in court

Humanists International welcomes news that a hearing in the case of Nigerian humanist Mubarak Bala – originally scheduled to take place at the Abuja High Court on 20 April – will take place on 14 July.
Arrested from his home in Kaduna state on 28 April 2020, Bala has been held without charge ever since. After spending more than five months in detention in an undisclosed location, Bala was finally granted access to his chosen legal counsel in October. The Abuja High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on Bala’s Fundamental Rights Petition on 21 December 2020, following repeated delays. A second petition is currently proceeding through the courts.'

Source: Following months of delays, Mubarak Bala is to have his day in court

Lets hope that Bala is freed given that he never should have been arrested in the first place.

 

[Justanatheist]

The lesson to be learned from this, is that this is Religion in Action, this is what happens when religious laws trump secular laws. It may be that this is an extreme example but have no doubt that if any religion is allowed to create a theocracy it will apply some of its religious laws to your life.