Irreligion in Nigeria

Irreligion in Nigeria is measured at less than one percent of the population.[1] As in many parts of Africa, there is a great amount of stigma attached to being an atheist.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

A 2010 poll by Pew Research Center showed that 51% of Nigerian Muslims agree with the death penalty for leaving Islam.[10] In some parts of Nigeria, there are even anti-blasphemy laws.[11]

In 2017 the Humanist Association of Nigeria gained formal government recognition after a 17-year struggle.[12] This was followed by recognition of the Atheist Society of Nigeria, the Northern Nigerian Humanist Association and the Nigerian Secular Society.[13]

Case of Mubarak Bala

Mubarak Bala, a Nigerian atheist, who was born in Kano State, Northern Nigeria in the mid 80s,[14] was forcibly committed to a psychiatric institution in Kano for eighteen days in 2014, where he was forcibly drugged. One doctor suggested there was nothing wrong with Bala but a second doctor suggested a personality disorder and, according to Bala, told him:

My dear, you need a God, even in Japan, they have a God, no one should live without God, those that do, are all psychologically ill, denying the biblical account of Adam and Eve is delusion, denial of history.[15]

The International Humanist and Ethical Union has taken up the case and feels Bala's Human rights were violated.[16][15] According to the IHEU, "The real reason for this outrageous and inhumane action is because Mubarak has renounced Islam and has openly declared himself to be an atheist." [17] On 4 July 2014, the BBC reported that Bala had been released from hospital in conjunction with a doctors' strike, and was seeking reconciliation with his family. It was not yet clear if he would remain in Northern Nigeria, due to death threats.[18]

Mubarak Bala decided to stay in Nigeria and was named president of an organisation called the Nigerian Humanists. In April 2020, he was arrested in Kaduna for blasphemy due to a FaceBook post he made,[19] and has been held without charge since then (as at 15 May 2020). Due to the fact that the Nigerian police allegedly transferred him from Kaduna to Kano, where Shariah law is practiced and in the face of several credible death threats[20] fears are mounting for his safety. Leo Igwe has been working hard to fight for his rights, working with several atheist and humanist organisations, notably the International Association of Atheists (IAA) to raise awareness as well as raising funds to help pay his legal costs, although it must be said that the international media has been mostly silent on this case. Recently, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) took and interest in Mubarak and have started applying pressure on the Nigerian government.[21]

The struggle to free Mubarak Bala is ongoing.

List of Non-Religious Nigerians

See also

References
  1. "Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism" (PDF). Gallup. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
  2. Igwe, Leo (13 September 2012). "Atheism in Nigeria". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  3. "No country for Nigerian 'unbelievers'". The Punch. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  4. Buari, Jasmine (23 August 2016). "Do you know the pain of being an atheist in Nigeria? – Unbelievers cry out". Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  5. Igwe, Leo. "Atheism in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities - Modern Ghana". Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  6. "What if Zuckerberg were a Nigerian atheist?". Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  7. "Nigeria Must Remain Neutral When It Comes To Religion". Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  8. "Is it harder to "come out" as an atheist if you're black?". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  9. "TRUE Africa - How social media is helping atheists survive in one of the most religious places on earth". 13 April 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  10. "Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah" (PDF). Pewglobal.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  11. "Laws Penalizing Blasphemy, Apostasy and Defamation of Religion are Widespread | Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project". Pewforum.org. 2012-11-21. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  12. "Humanist Association of Nigeria achieves formal recognition after 17-year campaign". Humanists International. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  13. Oduah, Chika (18 September 2018). "Nigeria's undercover atheists: In their words". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  14. "Mubarak Bala answers questions on his atheism in Nigeria". 18 December 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2018 – via www.thisisafrica.me.
  15. "Nigerian man detained in mental institute in Kano 'because he renounced Islam'". 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  16. "Nigeria atheist Bala 'deemed mentally ill' in Kano state". 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. "Nigerian atheist forced into mental hospital for rejecting Islam". Nigeria Sun. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  18. "Nigeria atheist Bala freed from Kano psychiatric hospital". BBC News. 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
  19. "Mubarak Bala, President of Nigerian humanists, under arrest". Humanists International. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  20. "Mubarak Bala: Death Threats, Blasphemy and Police Investigation in Kano". Humanist Voices. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  21. "USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala". USCIRF. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.


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