Atheist, Mubarak Bala, jailed for blasphemy fears for life despite release after four years in prison
An atheist, Mubarak Bala, jailed for blaspheming Islam on social media in Kano has been released after spending four years in prison.
On Tuesday, the BBC reported Mr Bala’s release from prison after four years having pleaded guilty to 18-count charges bordering on his Facebook posts in 2020.
Mr Bala, 40, in a short interview with the BBC, said he pleaded guilty to save his life and others in Kano when asked why he pleaded guilty back then.
“I believe what I did then was saving not only my life but people in the state and people attached to my case because they were also a target,” Mr Bala said.
Mr Bala regained freedom after an appellate court reduced his 20-year sentence to four. However, he remains in hiding over fear for his safety.
“The concern about my safety is always there,” Mr Bala said “Freedom is here, but also there is an underlying threat I now have to face. All those years, those threats, maybe they’re out there.”
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