The word "blasphemy" came via Middle English blasfemen and Old French blasfemer and Late Latin blasphemare from Greek βλασφημέω, from βλάπτω = "I injure" and φήμη = "reputation". Sometimes the word "blasphemy" is used loosely to mean any profane language, for example: "With much hammering and blasphemy, the locomotive's replacement spring was finally fitted." The idea of blasphemy makes the word amenable to colloquial usage. Those laws may discourage blasphemy as a matter of blasphemous libel, vilification of religion, religious insult, or hate speech. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy. The Abrahamic religions condemn blasphemy vehemently. We call on the Nigerian authorities to quash this completely unjust and entirely disproportionate conviction, and release our innocent friend and colleague.For other uses, see Blasphemy (disambiguation).īlasphemy is irreverence toward holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs. "He has been charged and found guilty of offenses that amount to no more than expressing a non-religious opinion. "For two years Mubarak's fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial have been consistently violated," Copson continued. This is a day of shame for the Nigerian authorities, who have imposed an unthinkable punishment on an innocent man," wrote Andrew Copson, president of Humanists International. "The thoughts of the whole global humanist movement are with our friend Mubarak, his wife, and his baby son. Humanists have become endangered citizens of Nigeria," Leo Igwe said. Humanists and atheists in Nigeria are now "potential criminals who can easily be thrown in jail just for expressing their views. Had he been tried in one of Nigeria's Islamic Sharia courts he could have faced the death penalty.įriends of Bala voiced continued support for him, his wife Amina and their young son Sodangi 'A day of shame' for Nigerian authorities say humanists The trial was conducted in a secular court. Supporters fear he was coerced by Nigerian authorities and questioned the state's motives, raising issues of a flawed process.ĭuring his nearly two years in detention, Bala was reportedly put in solitary confinement where he was denied health care and forced to "worship in the Muslim way," according to his lawyer.Īuthorities in Kano insist the trial was fair, stating that Bala is welcome to appeal its decision. The presiding judge halted the trial to grant counsel the opportunity to speak to Bala to "be sure he was under no influence or intimidation" and understood "the implication of his plea."īala told the court he was "pleading for mercy and leniency," adding: "The intention of the posts was not to cause violence but I have realized they are capable of causing violence. Prosecutors in the West African country's predominantly Muslim northern state of Kano said Bala had insulted the Prophet Muhammad and Islam in Facebook posts which they claimed sought to, "cause a breach of the public peace."īala had long maintained his innocence but surprised his legal team Tuesday by pleading guilty to 18 charges of blasphemy. Bala could have faced execution at Sharia court Its place in Nigeria's legal code, as in multiple countries around the world, dates back to British imperial rule. The supposed crime of blasphemy typically involves the perceived insult of a deity or deities. We urge the authorities in Nigeria to ensure that this judicial charade does not stand," Igwe added. The sentencing of Mubarak Bala is a stark violation of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. "Today is a sad day for humanism, human rights and freedom in Nigeria. "The Humanist community in Nigeria is utterly shocked by the sentencing of Mubarak Bala for 'blasphemy.' It is utterly disgraceful that a court in this 21st century could convict an individual for making innocuous posts on Facebook," wrote Leo Igwe, a board member of the organization Humanists International. "This court hereby sentences Muhammad Mubarak Bala to 24 years … This will take into consideration the time he served awaiting trial," said Judge Faruk Lawan in Kano, Nigeria.īala, a former Muslim and the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, was arrested in April 2020 for what authorities said were social media posts blasphemous toward Islam. A Nigerian court on Tuesday sentenced Mubarak Bala, an atheist, to 24 years in prison for blasphemy.
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