A Nigerian atheist was sentenced to 24 years in prison for blasphemy

A Nigerian atheist and vocal religious critic was sentenced to 24 years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to blasphemy charges in the predominantly Muslim northern state of Kano, in a verdict that highlights the country's religious liberties.

Mubarak Bala's charges stem from statements he made on Facebook in April 2020 that were disparaging of Islam and were deemed blasphemous and an insult to the faith by Kano authorities, according to his lawyer.

When Kano High Court Judge Farouk Lawan inquired if Bala was pressured into entering a guilty plea to the 18 counts, he stated he did so of his own free will.

Bala's lawyer, James Ibor, said the sentence handed down on Tuesday was "very outrageous" and might be contested.

"The sentence infringes his right as an atheist," Ibor told Reuters.