Mubarak Bala

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Nigeria

Religion or Belief: Humanist

Health Concerns: High blood pressure, pain on his left side

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Reduced to 5 Years’ Imprisonment

Sentence: Originally 24 Years’ Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April/28/2020

Date of Sentencing: April/5/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Doctrine) Expression about Religion Non-Belief Online Activity

Nature of Charges: Blasphemy

Mubarak Bala

Extra Bio Info:

Mubarak Bala is imprisoned for exercising his freedom of belief.

On April 28, 2020, Kaduna State police arrested Bala, president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, from his home in Kaduna State because of a Facebook post he made allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Bala was denied access to legal counsel for more than five months after his arrest and was held without charge for over a year.

On August 3, 2021, Bala was charged with 10 counts of causing a public disturbance in relation to Facebook posts he made over the course of April 2020. 

On April 5, 2022, the Kano State High Court sentenced Bala to 24 years in prison after convicting him of 18 counts under Sections 210 and 114 of the Kano State Penal Code, respectively.

On or around May 13, 2024, the Kano State Court of Appeal ruled Bala’s punishment was “excessive” and reduced his prison sentence to five years.

Bala has reportedly been denied adequate medical care while in prison. 

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) advocates for Bala as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

In January 2025, it was announced Bala was released by Nigerian authorities. In April 2025, he left Nigeria for Germany.

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