Tag Archives: Blasphemy

Regional

Nigeria: Anger and riots over the killing of a female student

Maravi Post Reporter

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There is outrage over the killing of a female Nigerian student over her social media post.

The level 200 university student was allegedly beaten and burnt to death by fellow students in north-western Nigeria after she was accused of making a blasphemous social media post.

According to a police statement, Deborah Samuel was killed in the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto state after being accused of “making a social media post that blasphemed Prophet Muhammad”.

Authorities have closed the school indefinitely, in a bid to calm frayed nerves in that part of Nigeria where residents have in the past violently reacted to actions or comments deemed anti-Islamic.

Facts of the case

Witnesses said Samuel, a second-year college student whose age was not made public, was immediately attacked by her fellow students after she criticized a religion-related post on the students’ WhatsApp group.

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“She was angry the way Muslims were talking about Islamic affairs in that WhatsApp group, which made her to make some un-Islamic utterances against Prophet Mohammed,” said Basharu Guyawa Isa, a resident and human rights activist in Sokoto.

The school authority quickly deployed security personnel to protect Samuel but they were overpowered by angry youths.

“Students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building,” said Sokoto police spokesperson Sanusi Abubakar.

A video of the incident posted on social media showed Samuel lying on the ground as she was stoned and beaten with planks.

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The young men surrounding her then dumped tires on her, and set them ablaze.

Samuel’s killing has caused outrage and shock among many Nigerians on social media.

Sokoto town
The city of Sokoto is now under curfew (file pic). Photo: Getty Images

Riots over arrests of suspects

On Saturday Nigeria’s military and police had to quell riots over the arrest of some suspects in connection with the murder.

Hundreds of people in the city of Sokoto went on rampage after the arrests with police saying a manhunt for other suspects who appeared in footage of the murder shared on social media had started.

But the irate Muslim youths took to the streets of the city, lighting bonfires and demanding the release of the two suspects, despite the earlier deployment of police to maintain order, residents said.

Some of the protesters besieged the palace of Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the sultan of Sokoto and the highest spiritual figure among Muslims in Nigeria, after he condemned the killing and demanded those involved face justice.

“It was more of a riot by a mob of young men and women who were demanding the release of the two people arrested over the killing of the Christian student. The crowd which made bonfires on the streets were also demanding the police stop the manhunt for those identified to have taken part in the murder. Some among the security men deployed to protect the palace tried to ask the protesters to leave but they became unruly”, a resident said.

Policemen and soldiers deployed outside the palace fired tear and succeeded in dispersing the crowd.

Nigerian atheist jailed 24 years for blasphemy

Escalating tensions

The mob retreated downtown where they tried to loot shops belonging to Christian residents. They also attacked some churches but were dispersed by security patrol teams.

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has “strongly condemned” the murder of Samuel.

In a statement, President Buhari said “no  person has the right to take the law in his or her own hands in this country, and violence has and never will solve any problem”.

A curfew has also been declared in Sokoto to bring the situation under control. Sokoto Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal urged the protesters saying “Please, in the interest of peace go back home.”

Mourning of a giant university fish in Zambia receives mixed reactions

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Regional

Nigerian atheist jailed 24 years for blasphemy

Maravi Post Reporter

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A Nigerian court on Tuesday sentenced Mubarak Bala, an atheist, to 24 years in prison for blasphemy.

“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.

Bala, 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.

“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.

“Today is a sad day for humanism, human rights and freedom in Nigeria. The sentencing of Mubarak Bala is a stark violation of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief. We urge the authorities in Nigeria to ensure that this judicial charade does not stand,” Igwe added.

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The supposed crime of blasphemy typically involves the perceived insult of a deity or deities. Its place in Nigeria’s legal code, as in multiple countries around the world, dates back to British imperial rule.

Bala could have faced execution at Sharia court

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.”

Bala had long maintained his innocence but surprised his legal team Tuesday by pleading guilty to 18 charges of blasphemy.

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.”

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Bala 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. I will take care in the future.”

Supporters fear he was coerced by Nigerian authorities and questioned the state’s motives, raising issues of a flawed process.

During 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.

Authorities in Kano insist the trial was fair, stating that Bala is welcome to appeal its decision.

The trial was conducted in a secular court. Had he been tried in one of Nigeria’s Islamic Sharia courts he could have faced the death penalty.

‘A day of shame’ for Nigerian authorities say humanists

Humanists and atheists in Nigeria are now “potential criminals who can easily be thrown in jail just for expressing their views. Humanists have become endangered citizens of Nigeria,” Leo Igwe said.

“The thoughts of the whole global humanist movement are with our friend Mubarak, his wife, and his baby son. 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.

“For two years Mubarak’s fundamental rights to liberty and a fair trial have been consistently violated,” Copson continued. “He has been charged and found guilty of offenses that amount to no more than expressing a non-religious opinion. We call on the Nigerian authorities to quash this completely unjust and entirely disproportionate conviction, and release our innocent friend and colleague.”

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Human Rights

Elijah Ode: Arrested for Blasphemy, Not Rape

MaraviPost

By Leo Igwe

A relative to a Christian barber, who was arrested for blasphemy, has refuted the claim by the Police PRO in Kano that Elijah Ode’s arrest was in connection with a rape incident. The Police PRO made this claim in a report that PM news published yesterday. Here is a disclaimer as issued by one Smith Akoko.

ELIJAH ODEH WAS NOT ARRESTED FOR RAPE: A DISCLAIMER

Against yesterday’s publication of PM News, wherein one Mr. Abdullahi Haruna, reported to be a Kano Police PRO, was quoted as saying that the detained Benue-born barber in Kano, Elijah Odeh, was arrested for rape and not blasphemy – a statement which describes as false the earlier report of this writer on the barber’s arrest – may it be known to the general public that Elijah has not in his life been invited by the Police over a rape allegation. For the records, Elijah was arrested over a style of hair found on two of his customers’ heads which a group of Muslims found offensive to their religion and Prophet Muhammad. If it were not so, why was the barber arrested twice for this reason and not another? Elijah was indeed charged at the court for offenses unconnected to the reason for his arrest, yet rape was not one. These charges are conspiracy, inciting disturbance, and screening of offenders. So one wonders where the PRO manufactured ‘rape’ from. But by this, he seems to be confirming the rumor rending the air that Kano Muslims have cast their fangs on ensuring a death sentence for the innocent lad since their attempt to be extrajudicial to that end proved abortive. But does even rape attract that penalty? Mr. Haruna, according to the report, alleged that the report that Elijah was arrested for blasphemy was meant to cause trouble. By this statement, the PRO has condemned an arrest based on blasphemy. For a lawful arrest would not tend to cause trouble.’ But aside from that, if Haruna was speaking to educated and trained journalists, would he not have too many correspondents who would question why he had to wait for nine days after Elijah’s arrest before serving the public this measure of cooked lies which is bereft of spices? It would’ve been needless to dignify Haruna with this statement. More so, his insidious claim is neither recognized by the police that arrested the victim nor by the court that tries. However, in a country where telling lies is a stock in trade and many people queue in patronage, silence would do Elijah’s image – and certainly not his life – no good. It is important to note that Elijah is a dedicated believer, born and bred with the fear of God in a good Christian home. Given his upbringing, he upholds such virtues as diligence and morality and despises hooliganism to the latter. For these reasons and many others, Elijah would flee to no end in the event of possible seduction. He, therefore, would not tow the path of rape, even if it is legalized in Kano. It is understandable, however, that Haruna embarks on this shameful outing. In a case where a group of people is roundly condemned for practicing religion at the expense of a person’s life, a lie or two could be instrumental in an attempt at public distraction. But which religion endorses that style of life? Certainly, not of Elijah nor his traducers. So, where is Haruna’s conscience?

Smith Akoko is an activist and writes from Benue, Nigeria.

This clarification is a welcome development. Ode’s relatives should be commended for their courage and refusal to be intimidated by the Islamic police in Kano. This claim once again underscores the extent that the police in Kano could go to cover up the illegalities of the Islamic police in the state. The Islamic police, also known as Hisbah, have been responsible for the arrests, abuses, and imprisonment of suspected blasphemers, including Mubarak Bala, Umar Farouk, and Yahaya Shariff.

Unfortunately, the Kano state government continues to condone and enable these violations. It is high time that the Kano state government and its ragtag Islamic police and clerics were called to order. Pressure must be brought to bear on the Islamist governor of Kano to unconditionally release Elijah Ode, Mubarak Bala, Yahaya Shariff, and others who have been illegally detained for blasphemy. Kano state must realize that the country and world are watching as Muslims take laws into their hands; as Muslims take undue advantage of their being in the majority to abuse and oppress others with impunity. These abuses will not reflect positively on Muslims and Islam elsewhere in the country and the world, now or in the future.

Human Rights, Opinion

Blasphemy: Equality of Believers and Non-Believers in Northern Nigeria

Leo Igwe
USCIRF Condemns Arrest of Prominent Nigerian Atheist, Mubarak Bala

If the controversy over blasphemy allegations, especially as brought against Mubarak Bala in Kano, has revealed anything, it is the entrenched unequal relationship between believers and non-believers in the region. It is the flagrant violation of the humanity and dignity of non believers by Muslims. The debate has demonstrated the despicable role of religion, as in this case, Islam in perpetration and perpetuation of inequity and injustice in Northern Nigeria. All Nigerians are equal before the law, as declared in the Nigerian constitution. All human beings are born equal in dignity, as affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These provisions imply that no Nigerian should be treated as less human or less a citizen; nobody should be denied of his or her humanity or citizenship based on one’s religious belief or unbelief.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in Kano and other parts of Islamic Northern Nigeria. In these places, Islam is privileged and non-Muslims are treated as second-class citizens or as no citizens at all. While the profession of Islam invests humanity and citizenship, lack of faith in Islam is a human, family and state deal breaker. Let us take the case of Mubarak Bala to illustrate this point. Mr. Bala was born in Kano, but lives in Kaduna. He was born into a Muslim family. And the family expected him to remain a Muslim for the rest of his life. Growing up as a Muslim, Bala enjoyed all the full rights as a human being, and a family member, and yes as a citizen. The father, an Islamic scholar, fulfilled his parental role and responsibilities. The sharia government in Kano treated him as a Islamic citizen. But in 2014, everything changed. Bala renounced Islam, and those rights were either taken away or trimmed down. Islamic Kano state abdicated their duties and obligations to protect and guarantee his rights. Family ties were severed. Bala’s father disowned him. Bala became a persona non grata in his Islamic family, community, and state. Family members consigned him to a mental hospital because Muslims regard apostasy as a form of mental illness. Those who leave Islam are believed to be sick in the mind; they are seen as psychiatric patients. The profession of the Islamic faith is an indication of a sound mind. Now, imagine the other way round. Think about a situation where Bala’s was an unbelieving family, and members consigned him to a mental hospital for professing Islam. There would have been an outrage across the Islamic world, from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. Muslims would have pressured and protested until he was released. But that did not happen. Muslims looked the other way while Bala was undergoing treatment at a mental hospital in Kano. Except in the quack Islamic medical corpus as used in Kano, there is no research anywhere that links apostasy to mental illness. Instead, studies abound that relate religious profession to psychological imbalance.

Having said that, what transpired in April 2020 confirms the unequal relationship between Islamic religious believers and non-believers in Kano. Muslims profess beliefs that are critical of other gods and prophets. Sometimes they make declarations urging Muslims to kill, hate and enslave non-believers. And nobody arrests them for making blasphemous statements. Nobody reports them to the police for insulting other gods and prophets; for ridiculing other religions, faith, and non-faith traditions. Nobody petitions asking that Muslims be arrested, investigated and prosecuted for contempt on other faiths. But in the case of Mubarak Bala, Muslims petitioned the police, alleging that he insulted the prophet of Islam in a Facebook post. They said that Bala called their prophet a terrorist and a pedophile.

Look. the issue is that Muslims believe that they have the exclusive right to describe Muhammad as a prophet. And nobody has the right to believe or designate him otherwise. This assumption is misguided and mistaken. Muslims openly and publicly discount and dismiss other gods except for the Islamic God (Allah). Meanwhile, they are of the view, strongly of the position, that nobody should criticize their god, Allah, and their holy book, the Quran. Criticism of Islam and Islamic prophet is seen as a form of insult and disrespect while Muslim criticism of other religions is taken to be an expression of faith. Muslims in Kano and everywhere in the world need to realize that believers and non-believers are equal in dignity and right. They should learn to treat others-all non-believers-in the spirit of equity and fairness.

Top News

A case against blasphemy in Nigeria

Leo Igwe
Nigeria’s blasphemy laws have been of focus locally, nationally and internationally following the arrest and detention of Nigerian Humanist, Mubarak Bala

Nigeria’s blasphemy laws have been of focus locally, nationally and internationally following the arrest and detention of Nigerian Humanist, Mubarak Bala, the sentencing to death of a Muslim singer, and the imprisonment of a 13-year-old boy for blasphemy in Kano State in Northern Nigeria.

It would appear that Muslim theocrats – within the police and the courts – have gone to great lengths to subvert constitutional provisions and international human rights norms in their quest to enforce the ‘blasphemy’ provision. For instance, the police arrested Bala, who is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, at his residence in Kaduna on April 28, 2020. They took him to Kano the following day, where they have held him incommunicado ever since. The arrest was at the instance of lawyers who lodged a petition with the Kano State Police Command complaining that Bala had insulted the prophet of Islam in a Facebook post.

Before his arrest, Bala received death threats from Muslims who were angry over his posts and comments on Facebook, including a Kano State police officer. Police have failed to meet their Constitutional obligation to charge Bala within 48 hours of his arrest. Efforts to enforce Bala’s rights have met a brick wall. The police have not given Bala access to a lawyer. They have not formally charged him in court. There is no information regarding where he is held or the condition of his detention. There is no independent confirmation that Bala is still alive. Bala has a wife and a 6-month old son. His wife has petitioned the police and the parliamentarians urging them to give her access to her husband without success.

Kano is among the 12 states that uphold Sharia laws in Northern Nigeria and is notorious for jailing or murdering alleged blasphemers or desecrators of the Quran. Under Sharia law, the punishment for ‘blasphemy’ is death; however, in the parallel Common Law system, the same crime is seen as a misdemeanour punishable by up to two years in prison. In Northern states allegations of ‘blasphemy’ can end in the extrajudicial killing of the accused.

In the case of Bala, the police and government in Kano State are in a dilemma. They are unable to try Bala in a Sharia court and sentence him to death as many individuals in Kano are demanding. Only Muslims are subject to Sharia law; Bala is not a Muslim. He was born into a Muslim family but Bala renounced Islam in 2014. If the police must try Bala, it would be in a secular state court, not in a Sharia court. Even if the sentence is passed on Bala, the penalty would not placate the extremist base that is behind the petition. So, it would appear that, instead of prosecuting Mubarak Bala as required by law, the police and government in Kano disappeared him to appease the Muslim majority base.

In the cases of the 22-year old singer, Yahaya Aminu-Sharif and 13-year-old Umar Farouq, the allegations of ‘blasphemy’ have been handled differently. Both are Muslims and were tried and sentenced in Sharia courts. Aminu-Sharif was accused of insulting the Prophet of Islam in a song that he circulated on Whatsapp in March. His ‘offense’ was that they lyrics suggested that the Senegalese scholar, Ibrahim Nyass, was greater than Prophet Muhammad. Whilst Farouq was accused of making remarks that insulted the Islamic god, Allah. Even though Aminu-Sharif has 30 days to appeal, some Muslim bodies, like the Muslim Lawyers Association, the Council of Imams, and the Supreme Council for Sharia have issued statements urging the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to immediately authorize the execution of Aminu-Sharif. If some counter pressure is not brought to bear on the Kano State Governor, Aminu-Sharif will be executed. Or he may, as in the case of other members of the Sufi Order convicted for blasphemy in 2015, be left to languish in jail.

Nigeria is a religiously pluralistic country in which an individual’s ethnicity has a bearing on religious demographics. The Hausa-Fulani ethnic group, which is most populous in Northern Nigeria, are predominantly Muslim while the Igbo, a major ethnic group in the south is predominantly Christian. Meanwhile no single religion is in the majority throughout the country. Muslims, who are in the majority in the north are in the minority in Southern Nigeria. Whilst Chirstians, who are in the majority in Southern Nigeria, are in the minority in the north. Nigeria has a volatile ethno-religious mix and ethno-religious violence often erupts. The application of ‘blasphemy’ laws reinforces ethno-religious hatred and intolerance.

Nigeria needs to repeal laws that legitimize religious violence, oppression, and persecution. ‘Blasphemy’ laws are enshrined in both the Sharia and state penal codes. However, these laws are seldom invoked, except in the Muslim dominated states in Northern Nigeria. ‘Blasphemy laws are incompatible with human rights, tolerant pluralism and peace. ‘Blasphemy’ is a victimless crime. ‘Blasphemy’ laws make a mockery of the justice system in Nigeria because laws are there to protect individuals, and not to protect ideologies, beliefs or dogma – however important these may be to people.

Laws are made to guarantee and not violate the rights of human beings. Incidentally, blasphemy laws are used to flagrantly deny basic human rights, including the rights to life, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression. As the cases of Bala, Aminu-Sharif and Farouq have shown, blasphemy laws sanctify religious tyranny and impunity. They are used to legitimize the oppression of minorities, to justify extrajudicial murder, arson, and attacks.

‘Blasphemy’ laws are only a legal recipe for chaos, anarchy, and conflicts in Nigeria. In the interest of peace, justice, and progress, Nigeria should abolish these unjust, incoherent and archaic laws.

Opinion

Blasphemy: Muslim Lawyers and Pious Betrayal of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu

Leo Igwe
Yahaya Shariff Aminu: Kano sharia court sentence Nigeria musician to death for blasphemy of Prophet Mohammed

The death sentence passed on the Muslim singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu for blasphemy provides for an appeal period of one month. But from the look of things, this appeal process will not happen because there are persons with a vested interest in having Sharif-Aminu executed. This is unfortunate. Moves to review and possibly quash the ruling of the upper sharia court have hit a brick wall due to treachery and zealot refusal of some legal members of the Ummah in Kano to put justice above piety. First, from all inquiries, Mr. Sharif-Aminu had no legal representation during the secret trial where he was sentenced to death. So no lawyer stepped forward to help argue his case.

Even now that he had been given the death penalty with a month to appeal the judgment, there are no prospects for an appeal. There is still no Muslim lawyer ready and willing to initiate the process. Why? The Islamic establishment has made it difficult, damaging, and dangerous for any Muslim lawyer to come forward to represent Sharif-Aminu. Is this not shameful? I mean, why is there a sharia court of appeal? Why is there a Supreme Court? These are avenues that individuals could use to seek a reprieve or a review of judgments. But going by the position of some Muslim association in Kano, using these avenues seem foreclosed. This Muslim lawyers association has in a press release sealed a pious betrayal of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu. It stated that “the offense under which the convict was charged is an offense known by the Kano State Shariah Penal Code and provided in section 382(B). We equally noted that the convict has boldly confessed to his offense during the trial the details of which is contained in a Whatsapp group known as “Gidan Umma Amina” and transmitted into writing, (the certified true copy of the transcribed text was tendered and admitted during trial).”

That association went further to declare its stand on the case:

“That the honorable Judge of Upper Shariah Court Hausawa was right in his Judgment in which he convicted and sentenced the accused to death for blasphemy against the holy prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) without prejudice to the right of appeal of the convict. This is because the supreme court has decided in the case of Abubakar Shalla Vs State (2007) 12 MJSC at page 52-53 paragraph G-B that the position of the Law under Shariah is that any sane and adult Muslim, who insults, defames, or utter words or acts which are capable of bringing into disrepute, odium, contempt of the holy prophet (peace be upon him) such a person has committed a serious crime which is punishable by death”.

This statement undermines Sharif-Aminu’s appeal chances. This association of Muslim Lawyers is not a party to this case. Is it? So what is its business taking a stand in a case where the concerned parties have not exhausted all avenues of justice? Why didn’t this organization wait until the appeal process has been exhausted before issuing this statement?

The release went further to state: “That the general public should understand that Shariah is a Muslim Law applicable only to Muslims. Therefore any person who accepts to be a Muslim must obey the provisions of Shariah irrespective of whether or not it pleases him”.

Of course, this is well known. But why is this association in a rush to reiterate an obvious proposition when there are still opportunities to appeal and review the judgment? Has this association a vested interest in the execution of this Muslim singer? These Muslim Lawyers went further to ask “the Executive arm of Government in Kano State to ensure strict compliance to the Judgement as part of its commitment towards proper implementation of Shariah.

One expects that an association of Muslim lawyers should be interested in using the law to defend Sharif-Aminu and in ensuring that justice is done in this case. Not in taking a stand on an appealable judgment. Those who instituted the legal system in Nigeria knew that there could be an error in judgment. Hence they instituted layers of appeal- the sharia court of appeal and the Supreme Court. These courts have the mandate to review, uphold, or quash the judgments of the lower courts. In a case that involves the death penalty, like that of Mr. Sharif-Aminu’s, this association of muslim lawyers should have allowed justice to take its full course before issuing a statement. Yes it is pertinent to explore and exhaust these avenues of appeal in adjudicating a case of blasphemy, a victimless crime.

Human Rights, Regional

Mubarak Bala: Death Threats, Blasphemy and Police Investigation in Kano

Leo Igwe
Activist Arrested In Kaduna For ‘Insulting Prophet Muhammad’ On Facebook Receives Death Threats From Imam, Police Officer

Two days ago, the police arrested Mubarak Bala, President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, in Kaduna. Detectives from the Kano State Police Command went to his residence, arrested and later detained him at Gbabasawa police station. According to local sources, the police were planning to transfer him to Kano where some lawyers had lodged a petition against him. They accused him of insulting the prophet Muhammad. The police should not take Mubarak to Kano due to the following reasons.

First of all, the police will be putting Mubarak’s life at risk if they do so. The police know this. And the concern has been registered with the Force headquarters in Abuja, the AIG at the zonal headquarters, and the commissioner of police in charge of the state command. Before his arrest, Mubarak received several death threats from Muslims in Kano who were angry with his posts and writings. They threatened to kill him if they could find him. According to Mubarak, one of those who made the threats was a police officer in Kano. So are the police taking him to Kano to be tried or to be killed?

Mubarak informed me that a military officer had threatened to murder him some time ago. Following his arrest, there have been several threats from Muslims who plan to attack and kill Mubarak. These are not idle talks but unequivocal declarations of intent to shed the blood of this foremost humanist. So the threats should not be taken for granted or swept under the carpet. One of those who issued the threat on Facebook said that Mubarak would be killed if he set foot in Kano. That the police post in Kaduna where he was detained would be razed to the ground if they kept him there for more than two days. Another potential assassin, Kawu Garba stated that if Mubarak was acquitted, “We will kill him”. In the message, Garba went further to say: “Quote me”.

Now, these are not made up stories and hearsay but statements of intent by bloodthirsty individuals vying to eliminate Mubarak Bala. Mubarak informed me that these threats did not only emanate from jihadists in Kano but also from their allies in other parts of Northern Nigeria including Northern Nigerian Muslims living as far away as Saudi Arabia. They were not only male but also female.
Another reason is that Kano has a history of religious bloodletting, of ‘judicial’ and the extrajudicial killing of blasphemers. The Islamic mobs usually call the shots and determine the fate of those who are accused of blasphemy. Police investigation and prosecution of alleged blasphemers are a charade. They are usually a window dressing, conducted to placate the mob, not to uphold the rule of law and justice. There is nothing which shows that the case of Mubarak would be different. There is grave concern that Mubarak could be murdered while in police custody as Gideon Akaluka was in the 90s. Some think that while in detention, the jihadists would come in large numbers, overpower the police, burnt down the police station and kill Mubarak. The police should not pretend that they do not know that this is a likely possibility; that this has happened in the past and could happen to Mubarak.

Yet another serious concern is that if taken to Kano, Mubarak would be tried at the sharia court. Kano state has a very active sharia police. Meanwhile, efforts would be made to force him to return to Islam while in detention. Otherwise, he will be tried and if convicted of apostasy and blasphemy under the sharia penal code of Kano state, Mubarak will be sentenced to death. He would languish in jail until he is executed or returns to the Islamic faith.

Moving Mubarak to Kano is a risky and dangerous undertaking that could lead to his death. It is my submission that Mubarak Bala will not receive a fair hearing and investigation in Kano, that is if he lives to be investigated and tried.

Again, I want to draw the attention of the police that a thorough investigation could be carried out without taking Mubarak to Kano and endangering his life. Mubarak was born in Kano but does not live in Kano. He lives and works in Kaduna. Mubarak was accused of posting comments on Facebook that insulted Prophet Muhammad. Facebook is not domiciled in Kano. It is an online facility. So any crime supposedly committed on Facebook could be investigated from anywhere in the country.

In conclusion, the police should give priority to Mubarak’s safety and security; they should take the death threats seriously. The inspector general police should take urgent steps to move Mubarak’s case to a neutral place where an impartial investigation and a fair hearing would be conducted.