Humanist Arrest in Nigeria

That the Parliament is concerned at reports regarding the arrest of Mubarak Bala in Nigeria; notes that Bala is a prominent humanist and President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria; further notes that many people in Nigeria are strongly committed to a religion, which is predominantly Muslim in the north and Christian in the south; understands that Bala was taken from his home to the neighbouring state of Kano, where there had been an arrest warrant for blasphemy, which in Kano is punishable by death; further understands that this is just the latest incident experienced by Bala, who has received death threats and had previously been detained, for allegedly psychiatric reasons, against his will and because of his beliefs; is concerned at reports that Bala has not formally been charged and has been refused a lawyer, and supports the Cross Party Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief in its statement to the Nigerian Government to clarify Bala’s legal status, to ask that he is taken to a more neutral state to ensure a fair trial and to ensure his wellbeing and safety while in detention, and to ask that Nigeria promotes freedom of religion or belief and human rights in all of its international engagements.