The Work Begins to End Global Blasphemy Laws: An Interview with Mubarak Bala
Mubarak Bala, a humanist in Nigeria, was recently released from prison for what amounts to charges of blasphemy. In an interview with Canadian humanist Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Bala reflects on his unjust detention, emphasizing that freedom of expression and belief are crucial for justice and progress. He describes Nigeria’s escalating religious extremism, persecution of humanists, and threats to secularism. Bala highlights the global need to abolish blasphemy laws and the challenges humanists face, particularly in their struggle to stay alive. He advocates for political action, media reform, and international lobbying to promote secularism. Bala plans to run for Nigeria’s presidency in 2031. He expresses joy at reuniting with his family while condemning systemic injustice. His resilience underscores the importance of safeguarding human rights and free thought worldwide.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How has (unjust) experience shaped your views on the importance of freedom of expression and belief in fostering a just society?
Mubarak Bala: Well, even before my unfair abduction and kidnapping, I have always known that the world I live in is not free; it is a world full of cruelty and menace to freedom and innovation; this is why it took millennia to manage life as it came, while societies that allowed that singular civil right, flourished and prospered, which seeped through time and ushered in the modern science and free inquiry that we enjoy today, which ultimately changed the destiny of our species and planet.
The fact that I was abducted only confirmed to me and folks that it is a long way to go for many countries and many societies, but whereas some sane cultures have already made it unfair and illegal to disallow free thought and free beliefs, others have chosen the path to cruelty, perversion, persecution, poverty and unnecessary harm to life.
This is glaring and evident in my immediate society, the north of Nigeria, where we’re most unsafe, from local governments agitating and mongering for the Shari’a and Jihadism. Sadly, the Federal Forces are on the dangerous pathway to expand this nationwide, jettisoning the secular federal constitution, albeit without a constitutional amendment or a national referendum.
Free thought is super important; free speech is the beginning of fairness and justice and any meaningful social cohesion of all members of any nation or society or conglomerates of nations such as Nigeria. It is these values that would shape our future and preserve the fragile peace, thereby perpetuating the country; otherwise, it would spiral down the blackhole of anarchy and civil war; sadly, we’ve been on that trajectory for two decades now, and it seems no one sees the path, none but few, such as I.
The Islamists brought us sharia, and then gradually, they brought us jihadism and jihadists, who are activists for the Shari’a. This bred terrorism and banditry, which is threatening to consume all of us. They seek to silence dissent and voices of reason, they seek to dominate, they seek to appease jihadists and their paymasters, they seek to appease non-existent gods and deities, and they are ready to murder for the glory of cultures far away, both in time and in mileage. They do this, and the world could only write, nothing much could be done, because, the world confuses Muslimophobia with Islamophobia, the two are distinct and can be understood by any rational person.
Now, there must be peace in the world. That peace cannot manifest without freedoms for women, thinkers, and all members of the community or society, and justice for the fringe members of any community, be they minorities by tribe, race, religion, sect, or social standing/class. The pathway is simple. However, it takes only courageous governments, politicians, policymakers, international bodies and actors, and the direct victims themselves to these tragedies.
Jacobsen: What challenges for humanists in Nigeria seem the most significant in online and offline spaces now?
Bala: Challenges for humanists at the moment are vast and numerous, intricate and intertwining cascades of cards and mazes. Sadly, we can’t solve any of them while dead, and since we’re actively being sought to be murdered by lone actors, by our governments, by vigilante and sharia police, then we can’t and haven’t started solving any of these problems with all the attention, resources and energy we could, because we’re busy trying not to die. It’s that simple. We are battling daily challenges to stay alive, then probably seek other fairness and justice as well for our members and the fringe, especially those made illegal by the governments for populism.
You may notice that over the decade or more, I suffered incarcerations, death threats, and attempted lobotomy; no one else has ever been arrested or punished by my tormentors and bullies, no one. Many of them have already murdered our kind, or Christians and minority sects, but the governors pay compensation to the victim’s families and set the culprits free.
Jacobsen: Why do you believe freedom of expression is a cornerstone of humanism?
Bala: The cornerstone for humanism is remaining alive. Everything else comes second. Therefore, freedom of speech, thought, or belief is second to that, at least in Nigeria.
So, perhaps freedom of expression is the cornerstone of humanism in the West, but in our climes, the right to life after changing beliefs is our paramount cornerstone or priority.
Jacobsen: What lessons can be drawn from imprisonment in restrictive environments? What is the role of humanist organizations in defending freedom of expression?
Bala: Lessons that can be drawn from imprisonment in restrictive environments:
- Living another day, and never dying is one thing, but also,
- Utilize the idle time to expand your knowledge and
- Try and keep your sanity and health, especially your mental and physical health. They try to engage you spiritually, but you know that is all crap since it’s about mythology and illogical dialogues, so you skip that. Instead, you exercise and eat well, that’s if you can find the food, though.
- I also learnt that in our environment, prison is only for the lower class, the poor and, the sick and the old; no rich person stays in prison for long. Many resources go via envelopes under the table, justice is for sale.
- Most importantly, stand your ground. I was converted to my former religion by force, but the moment I had access to a lawyer, I refused to bow down again.
- I also learnt that family is important, and not all you thought were family are. You may be born of the same womb, of the same woman or loins, but your actual siblings may be oceans away from you, connected by the internet, by humanity, and by the philosophy that all born must live free and that there is no limit to the resources and time that they could expend to see you free, to see justice done.
Jacobsen: How can we protect other cases of humanists at risk, e.g., Ahmadreza Djalali, Andrea Gilbert, Asaduzzaman Noor, Ashraf Fayadh, Atheists in Kenya Society, George Gavriel, Gáspár Békés, Gulalai Ismail, Indika Rathnayaka, Leena Manimekalai, Leo Igwe, Mahmoud Jama Ahmed, Mohamed Hisham, Mohamed Rusthum Mujuthaba, Mohammed Ould Shaikh Ould Mkhaitir, Mommad, M.M. Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar, Narendra Nayak, Panayote Dimitras, Raif Badawi, Rishvin Ismath, Saïd Djabelkhir, Shakthika Sathkumara, and Soheil Arabi?
Bala: We could protect humanists at risk by ending intolerance, meaning editing out inedible texts called or deemed holy. These are what leads to the murders or the government torment of individuals and families. They do this because they believe they are obeying some deity, that they’re the good people and you’re the bad.
The difference between terrorists and criminals is that criminals know they’re wrong and are feeling the guilt, one way or another. Terrorists have a clear conscience and believe that no matter what pain or blood they spill, they’re doing the right thing and that they’re the victims if they are allowed to carry out these atrocities.
Jacobsen: How will this Nigerian case impact the global conversation about blasphemy laws or quasi-blasphemy legal contexts?
Bala: I believe that we could at least say the West now received a nudge, a prod, or a small jolt to end all blasphemy laws and find a way to sanction countries that mete these atrocities on their citizens. Mind you, it’s not just my case. At least I didn’t die. Count the many that didn’t make it, be it in Iran, Arabia, Somalia, Malaysia, or Afghanistan. I should say I’m lucky, but we must end blasphemy laws around the world, then go on and end the Shari’a, as it has no place in modern societies. You guys confuse the fanatics that there must be freedom of religion and belief globally, and so, they also think that since their dogma is also part of the world religions, their ‘peace’ must be global. This means they have the right to misogyny and patriarchy; they have the right to kill nonbelievers; they also feel that it is their right, right of belief, to keep women locked up.
Jacobsen: How can international humanist movements effectively challenge laws and practices?
Bala: The international humanist community could lobby where there are democracies, coalesce where there are no freedoms, to form alliances and communities to protect themselves.
We must also join politics, effect change, and bring about secularism in governance. I, for one, will run for president in Nigeria in 2031 and radically change my country, which is on a dangerous trajectory.
I have already had about half a decade to work out my plans. Now, it’s time to start the action. I’ll leave my country for a while, then strategize and seek resources and partners and pressure my country to start asking the right questions, the national question, have a referendum and a new constitution; then we’ll see which direction to go: allow Talibanistan to go and form their country? Or join Nigeria in actual progress?
Jacobsen: What is the balance between respecting religious beliefs and protecting the right to question or critique those beliefs?
Bala: Balance between respecting religious beliefs and protecting rights to question…
In all sincerity, there is nothing about respecting faith and dogma and indoctrination or misogyny and terrorism; I cannot respect the Shari’a nor the Jihad, and never the book that asked man to murder man. There’s no two ways about it. I already mentioned earlier that Muslimophobia is wrong, while Islamophobia is legit and must be encouraged. Simple.
Jacobsen: What strategies are most effective for promoting humanism and secularism?
Bala: Strategies for promoting humanism by activism, speaking, networking, and forming communities where we protect ourselves.
Jacobsen: What is the future of humanism and freedom of expression in Nigeria?
Bala: At the moment, I’d say it’s doomed. This is why I have to leave, strategize and return; I have plans to start a Media House focused on Nigeria, West Africa, the Sahel Belt, and sub-Saharan Africa, in all languages involved, because the mainstream media assigned these jobs have failed us, failed miserably…
Jacobsen: How is your wife and family? How is it to see your kids again?
Bala: My wife and child are fine and healthy. We’re slowly reconnecting and recovering and counting our losses and hoping that this is the last time I suffer this misadventure orchestrated by my family and government. Seeing my kid again balanced out all the losses I incurred all this while.
Jacobsen: What were Leo Igwe’s first words?
Bala: The first call I received from the police custody in Kaduna was Leo’s call, but before I could discuss anything with him, the phone was seized; even though other inmates were allowed contact with family, legal services and associates—but not I, not for almost a year. And a further year before, I saw the courtroom. While rapists and murderers and terrorists were going for trials, getting bail, acquittals and even accolades showered on them, I was slowly dying and maligned in the hope that I acquiesced, but I didn’t. Never would. Never will.
Jacobsen: Thank you again for the opportunity and your time, Mubarak. We finally got that interview!