Nigerian atheist treated for ‘insanity’ after renouncing his Islamic faith
Chemical engineer consigned to mental health institution for renouncing his faith
A Nigerian atheist has been incarcerated in a mental health institution by his family after saying he had lost his belief in God.
Mubarak Bala, 29, is said to have been forcibly medicated for "insanity" for nearly two weeks, despite a doctor's opinion that he has no psychological problems.
Campaigners calling for his release say the case highlights the persecution of atheists in many African countries.
Bala's Twitter account uses the handle "ExMuslim", and his profile says: "Chemical Process Engineer. I stand for Truth & Justice. Religion insults human conscience & reason, duped me that I have another lifetime. Agnostic Atheist."
He lives in Kano in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north. The state adopted sharia law in 2000 and has a strict Islamic police force called the Hisbah.
When Bala told his family he had renounced Islam, they took him to a doctor and asked if he was mentally ill, according to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), which has taken up the case. The doctor gave him a clean bill of health, but the family turned to a second doctor, who said his atheism was due to a personality change.