Atheist Mubarak Bala jailed 24 years while terrorists are forgiven, Nigerians react

Nigerian atheist Mubarak Bala

Nigerians on social media have condemned the 24-year jail term handed to atheist Mubarak Bala by Kano State High Court for blaspheming Islam.

The 37-year-old president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, who has been in detention since 2020, pleaded guilty to all 18 charges and asked for leniency.

Bala renounced his Islamic faith in 2014. On April 27, 2020, he compared founder of the Synagogue Church of Nations Prophet TB Joshua with Prophet Muhammad. Bala’s lawyers say the judgement will be appealed.

On Twitter, Nigerians are saying the judgement was too harsh especially as terrorists are forgiven and reintegrated into the society.