₦airaland Forum

Earlier today, Nigerian police arrested Mubarak Bala (below), President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, for “blasphemy” after he allegedly posted criticism of Islam on his Facebook page.

This is the same Bala who was placed in a mental hospital in 2014 for the “crime” of being an atheist. He was later released, but that didn’t stop the threats on his life.

Today’s arrest apparently stems from a petition sent to local police saying that Bala characterized “Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a terrorist.”

Some group of lawyers finally write petition against Mubarak Bala

"We therefore humbly lodge this complaint to you with the hope that the said Mubarak Bala will brought to book so that he will know and understand that Nigeria is not a lawless society…"

To be clear, Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and expression. His comments didn’t block anyone from practicing or expressing their faith. The problem is that Nigeria doesn’t even care about its own Constitution in these cases. Despite promoting religious freedom, the Constitution also allows Nigerian states to create Sharia courts. Under Sharia law, blasphemy is punishable by death.

Leo Igwe, who chairs the Board of Trustees for the Humanist Association of Nigeria, said he’s worried about what could happen to Bala:

All of us at the Humanist Association of Nigeria are deeply worried by the arrest and detention of our president, Mubarak Bala. Mubarak Bala will likely be handed over to the Kano state police command, that will prosecute him for blasphemy, a crime that caries a death sentence under sharia law.

The Center for Inquiry supports and defends freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom to criticize religion and dogma, and freedom of religious choice — including the choice not to be religious. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the arrest of Mubarak Bala and call for his immediate release.

People deserve protection, not beliefs. Ideas don’t need rights. People do.

The Center for Inquiry stands in solidarity with the Humanist Association of Nigeria. As President of HAN, Mubarak has been a courageous proponent of humanist values, equality, and freedom in his country. Nigerian authorities must drop these ridiculous charges and release Mubarak from the Gabasawa holding center.

This isn’t just posturing. Bala is in serious danger. You don’t have to celebrate what he said to know that offensive speech isn’t a crime. No government should be prosecuting people for merely offending others.

Buharidgeneral:
Humanist

Abeg elucidate

VEXT:
Thank God Iam a Christian. No matter how you insult my religion and insult Jesus,no Christian will dare to pick up a weapon to kill you or harm you. Because we believed the battle is for Christ and not for us!!
Mubarak Bala happen to be my frd on Facebook, with the kind of comments and threat I do see on his post and facebook page. That was the day I realise that there is no difference between bokoharam and some Muslims,they are all the same.They kill for their God...I blame bala for all of this,he stay in their midst and still use his real Facebook account to criticize them,may God save him..For all those criticizing Christianity,have you now seen how peaceful and loving Christians are. Shalom!!!

HIbreed:
Christianity has done what Islam will never ever do when it comes to terrorism and killings .it just got reformed over time because the Europeans that invented got tired of it and it's nonsense.

The transatlantic slave trade was founded on Christianity. That's just one example of the evils of the religion and how it hurt and killed millions of people here in Africa.

Christianity did more worse in the 18th century and down.

I guess you do not know much about Christianity and its spread throughout the World.

In a bid to spread and convert people Christians killed millions of people.

Religion itself unleashes terror where ever it goes.

HIbreed:
Christianity has done what Islam will never ever do when it comes to terrorism and killings .it just got reformed over time because the Europeans that invented got tired of it and it's nonsense. The transatlantic slave trade was founded on Christianity. That's just one example of the evils of the religion and how it hurt and killed millions of people here in Africa. Christianity did more worse in the 18th century and down. I guess you do not know much about Christianity and its spread throughout the World. In a bid to spread and convert people Christians killed millions of people. Religion itself unleashes terror where ever it goes.

HIbreed:
Christianity has done what Islam will never ever do when it comes to terrorism and killings .it just got reformed over time because the Europeans that invented got tired of it and it's nonsense.

The transatlantic slave trade was founded on Christianity. That's just one example of the evils of the religion and how it hurt and killed millions of people here in Africa.

Christianity did more worse in the 18th century and down.

I guess you do not know much about Christianity and its spread throughout the World.

In a bid to spread and convert people Christians killed millions of people.

Religion itself unleashes terror where ever it goes.

VEXT:
Thank God Iam a Christian. No matter how you insult my religion and insult Jesus,no Christian will dare to pick up a weapon to kill you or harm you. Because we believed the battle is for Christ and not for us!!
Mubarak Bala happen to be my frd on Facebook, with the kind of comments and threat I do see on his post and facebook page. That was the day I realise that there is no difference between bokoharam and some Muslims,they are all the same.They kill for their God...I blame bala for all of this,he stay in their midst and still use his real Facebook account to criticize them,may God save him..For all those criticizing Christianity,have you now seen how peaceful and loving Christians are. Shalom!!!

VEXT:
Go and preach to the muslim brothers that arrested bala....maybe if we act the same way Muslims do whenever someone criticize their religion, by now people like you,reno,freeze, etinosa would hv been put to death!!!