A Nigerian atheist celebrity, who was recently released after serving more than four years in prison for blasphemy, is living in a safe place as his legal team fears his life may be in danger.
Mubarak Bala, 40, was convicted in a court in the northern city of Kano after he unexpectedly pleaded guilty to 18 charges related to a controversial Facebook story in 2020.
“The concern for my safety is always there,” he told the BBC in an exclusive interview as he ate his first meal as a free man.
Nigeria is a religiously oriented society and those who may be seen as disrespecting religion – be it Islam or Christianity – face shunning and discrimination.
Blasphemy is a crime under Islamic law – Sharia – which operates in parallel with state law in the 12 northern states. It is also an offense under Nigerian law.
Bala, who renounced Islam in 2014, said there were times when he was in prison that he felt “he might not get out alive”. He was afraid that he might be targeted by the guards or his fellow prisoners in the first prison he was in, in Kano, which is a major Muslim city.
“Freedom is here, but there is also a threat that I have to face now,” he said. “All those years, those threats, maybe there are.”
He could have been in prison for much longer had it not been for an appeals court judge who reduced the original 24-year sentence last year, describing it as “excessive”.
When he left the prison in the capital, Abuja, Bala looked tired, but happy in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops. He appeared with his lawyer who was shining beside him.
“It’s all new to me. It’s all new,” he said as he took in his newfound freedom.
Bala, who was very critical of religion, was arrested after a group of lawyers filed a complaint with the police about the document on social media.
He then spent two years in prison awaiting trial before being sentenced in 2022.
At that time, Bala’s confession confused many, even his legal team, but he still stands by his decision, saying that it reduced the pressure on those who stood by him, including his lawyers, friends and family.
“I believe that what I did saved not only my life, but also the people of Kano,” he said.
“Especially those who are connected to my case, because they are also victims.”
His conviction was widely criticized by human rights groups and sparked a debate on freedom of expression in Nigeria.
His arrest also sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s small agnostic and agnostic communities, and his release has come as a relief to many, but concerns remain.
“Thank you and no,” said Leo Igwe, founder of the Humanist Association of Nigeria.
“I’m thankful that he came out, we’re thankful that he’s a free man. But no, I’m thankful because there is a sign that he’s committed a crime. For us at the Humanist Association, he hasn’t committed a crime.”
As for Bala, he is determined to make up for lost time – including getting to know his young son who was just six weeks old when he was arrested. But he said he has no regrets.
“My activism, my writing on social media, I knew the worst would happen. When I decided to come out I realized I could be killed. I knew the risks, and I still decided to do it.”
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