Help us to hire a legal team to defend Mubarak

Mubarak Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria and on 28 April he was arrested by the Nigerian police for alleged criticism of religion on social media. 

Mubarak is well known to the global humanist community because in 2014 he was detained in a psychiatric ward on the grounds that he was an atheist. On that occasion Mubarak was set free after 18 days also thanks to the intervention of Humanists International.

You can read a detailed briefing and action paper on our action alert page .

We are working directly with lawyers in Nigeria to provide funding and assistance to Mubarak Bala.

Today Mubarak needs our help once again. We are seriously concerned about Mubarak, and we call on the relevant Nigerian authorities to do the following:

1. clarify Bala’s legal status, confirm his whereabouts and stipulate the nature of the charges against him. If no charges were made against him within the first 24 hours of his arrest, we urge the authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.

2. grant Bala free and unimpeded access to his legal counsel.

3. guarantee Bala’s well-being and safety while he remains in detention, particularly in light of the many death threats he has received and the increased risks posed to him as a prisoner during the COVID-19 outbreak.

4. transfer Bala to a neutral territory, such as Lagos, where it is more likely that he will receive a fair trial, if any trial against him were to take place.

The Humanist Association of Nigeria urgently needs our financial support to hire a professional team of lawyers who could assess Mubarak's situation and defend him in court when a formal charge will be issued.

Humanists International is an international NGO founded in 1952 with a long record of successes when it comes to rescue humanist at risks. We are acting as a fundraiser on behalf of Mubarak, while we are lobbying with governments and institutions around the world to save Mubarak.

All the money raised in this fund will be used to pay for Mubarak's legal team

However, it is expected that these costs will continue to rise over. If any money is raised which is not needed for Mubarak's legal costs, we will use this to protect other humanists at risk. Nonetheless, we fully expect to use all of these funds (and more) directly supporting Mubarak's legal defence.

Thanks to everyone who will contribute, on behalf of Humanists International, Humanist Association of Nigeria and Mubarak himself.

(You are donating to Humanists International is a Scottish (UK) charity no. SC050629. Donations to Humanists International are eligible for GiftAid from UK taxpayers, however we are not currently set-up to process them. Please contact us for more information.)