Learn more about the work that’s being done to #FreeMubarakBala:
Timeline of Mubarak Bala’s Case
Positive Developments in the Case of Mubarak Bala - Humanists International (June 25, 2020)
USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala - United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (May 8, 2020)
Urgent Action: Activist Arrested and Detained - Amnesty International (May 8, 2020)
Learn more about Mubarak Bala and his fight for freedom of expression:
Fears for Nigerian humanist held in sharia state - The Guardian (May 1, 2020)
Nigerian Police Arrest Humanist Leader Mubarak Bala - The Friendly Atheist (April 28, 2020)
Mubarak Bala, born in Kano state in northern Nigeria is a well known and respected member of the humanist movement. A chemical engineer by training, Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria.
Mubarak Bala was arrested by plain-clothes detectives from Kano State Police Command on April 28, 2020. Bala was initially held in detention in Gbabasawa police station in Kaduna state. On April 30, the Police Commissioner for Kaduna State confirmed that Mubarak Bala was released to Kano State Police Command. The Commissioner of Kano State Police Command has not yet confirmed that Bala is in their custody.
It is currently unclear whether Bala has been formally charged with a crime.
Bala has been the victim of death threats and harassment since he renounced Islam in 2014. Most recently, commenters on his Facebook post have called for him to be killed, while others have threatened to burn down the police station in which he is being held and kill him were he to set foot in Kano.
In June 2014, Bala was held against his will for 18 days in the psychiatric ward of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, after he was assessed as needing psychiatric help because of his nonreligious identity. His father, formerly a senior member of the Islamic religious authorities, had orchestrated Mubarak’s detention, after Mubarak renounced Islam and declared himself an atheist.