Mubarak Bala, the former president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, has expressed fears for his safety following his release from prison after serving four years for blasphemy.
Bala, who was arrested on April 28, 2020, at his Kaduna residence and subsequently transferred to Kano, faced accusations of breaching public peace and inciting outrage among Muslims.
The charges stemmed from complaints about alleged blasphemous and inciteful remarks.
In 2022, a Kano State High Court sentenced him to 24 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to an 18-count charge of blasphemy and incitement.
However, his sentence was later reduced by an appellate court, which deemed it excessive.
Speaking to the BBC after his release, Bala described his freedom as bittersweet, emphasizing the threats he believes he still faces.
“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,” he said.
“The concern about my safety is always there,” he added.
Bala explained that his decision to plead guilty was a strategic move to protect himself and others.
“I believe that what I did then was saving not only my life but people in the state and especially those that were attached to my case because they were also targets,” he noted.
His appeal against the sentence was based on multiple grounds, including the Kano State High Court’s lack of jurisdiction, the judge’s perceived predisposition to convict, and the misapplication of the law in sentencing him to consecutive terms.
Bala’s case has drawn significant international attention, with human rights groups raising concerns about his safety and the broader implications for freedom of expression in Nigeria.
The case underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding blasphemy laws in Nigeria and the risks faced by individuals challenging religious and cultural norms.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups continue to monitor Bala’s situation while urging Nigerian authorities to ensure his safety and uphold freedom of expression.
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