Atheists United Launches #FreeMubarakBala Campaign
Atheists United has partnered with Humanists International, Henry Consulting LLC, and Spectrum Experience LLC to launch an online campaign in support of Mubarak Bala.
On Tuesday, April 28th, the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, Mubarak Bala, was arrested following allegations that he insulted the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook.
It is reported he was arrested on charges of public disturbance and cyber crimes. We have reason to believe that Mubarak's life is in jeopardy. He was previously detained in 2014 on the grounds that he was an atheist.
We fear that Mr. Bala is being targeted solely for his exercise of his rights of freedom of belief and freedom of expression, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international and regional instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory—freedoms that are the cornerstone of our shared values.
We call on the international community to join us for a weekly day of protest each Tuesday to help #FreeMubarakBala.
Atheists United helped design, launch, and promote FreeMubarakBala.org while supporting online activism including social media interaction with government officials in Nigeria.
Instructions from FreeMubarakBala.org on how to participate:
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE #FREEMUBARAKBALA PROTEST:
1) Take a photo of yourself with the hashtag #FreeMubarakBala and tweet it each week’s targeted influencers… then post it on all other forms of social media. Keep sharing all day long!
2) Sign the statement of support to remind Nigeria that the international community is paying attention. See the list of signees to make sure your friends have signed on and view the strength of our international movement.
3) Donate to Mubarak Bala’s legal fund through Humanists International.
EXTRA THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Write your national leaders to demand they pressure Nigeria to free Bala. Humanists International created the following letter template and briefing documents to help.
Share this campaign on social media using the campaign’s sample language.
For continued updates on this campaign please visit humanists.international and FreeMubarakBala.org
