At the beginning of the month, a protest march concerning Palestine Action which was peaceful and attended by large numbers of elderly people, resulted in over 800 arrests. No police officers were reported to be injured.
On Saturday, 110,000 attended a rally in London where the police struggled to restrain the violence, where bloodthirsty, threatening and violent statements were made by Elon Musk and others and 26 police officers were injured. There were 28 arrests.
Members of the Salisbury group took part in Humanist protest in 2022
February 2024
Pictured: Humanists UK’s #FreeMubarakBala protest outside the Nigerian High Commission, London, 2022. Two members of the Salisbury group can be seen, centre. Picture: Humanists
MPs have raised the case of Mubarak Bala, imprisoned President of the Nigerian Humanist Association, at a debate in Westminster Hall on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Nigeria. The debate was secured by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party), Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) – of which Humanists UK is a stakeholder.
Humanists UK has been calling for Bala’s release since he was arrested in April 2020. Two years later, Bala was convicted and sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment for posting ‘blasphemous’ content on Facebook following an unfair trial: it was repeatedly delayed and the charges against him were duplicated. Procedural irregularities were rife. Bala remained incarcerated without charge for well over a year. He was denied access to his lawyers and family for an extended period. He was denied medical attention. The Abuja High Court’s ruling that he be released on bail was ignored by Kano State authorities. His case exemplifies the need to abolish blasphemy laws, which intrinsically contravene the right to freedom of religion or belief.
During the debate, Jim Shannon said that he, alongside other members of the APPG FoRB has visited Nigeria in 2022:
‘We used our visit to speak to some of the judiciary and judges in Nigeria… and made a very good case for the release of Mubarak. We thought we had made some headway on that, and the indications coming from the judiciary seemed to say that, but he is still in prison.’
Shadow Foreign Minister Lyn Brown said:
‘I can understand the anxiety about states in Nigeria continuing to imprison people for exercising religious freedoms. We all know the case of Mubarak Bala.’
Humanists UK campaigns for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) around the world, particularly for non-religious people facing persecution. In many countries it is impossible to be openly non-religious. Laws that criminalise blasphemy and apostasy are often the source of such persecution – as they were in Mubarak Bala’s case. The repeal of such laws is therefore a vital step in guaranteeing FoRB for all.
Director of Public Affairs and Policy Kathy Riddick commented:
‘We thank Jim Shannon MP for securing the debate and raising the case of our colleague Mubarak Bala who has been imprisoned simply for expressing his humanist beliefs.
‘The situation for humanists in Nigeria is dire. Blasphemy and apostasy are punishable by death and this is used to falsely justify the social persecution of the non-religious. Particularly worrying is that Nigeria is on the ‘safe country list’ under the Illegal Migration Act, which means that non-religious asylum seekers may face great risks if they are deported there.
‘We continue to call on the government to use all channels available to advocate for the repeal of all blasphemy and apostasy laws, and to secure not only the release of Mubarak, but the release of those convicted or imprisoned under such laws.’
The march in aid of refugees was attended by at least 15,000 yesterday and was good natured and uplifting. It started in Pall Mall, London, and wove its way along Piccadilly ending up in Parliament square. It is encouraging in the current climate to see so many people travel from as far afield as the Wirral and Penzance to show their solidarity for a better treatment of refugees. Britain’s role has been exceptionally poor largely because of hostility towards them egged on by a xenophobic press.
The march was a huge success and was attended by at least 15, 000 people. A fuller report and pictures will be posted soon.
March in London on Saturday 17 September to support refugees
Source: Wikimedia
Women, men and children around the world are fleeing war, persection and torture. They have been forced into the hands of smugglers and onto dangerous journeys across the sea in rickety old boats and dinghys. Many have lost their lives. Those who have made it often find themselves stranded in makeshift camps in train stations, ports or by the roadside.
And still, politicians across Europe fail to provide safe and legal routes for people to seek asylum.
Meanwhile, ordinary people have responded with extraordinary displays of humanity and generosity. They’ve been moved to act after seeing thousands of people drowning in the Mediterranean, the continuing misery of camps in places like Calais, and images of the brutal conflicts across the world.
We need to tell the Prime Minister Theresa May that we want to help.
The UK government must do more – let’s call on them to:
Lead the way towards a more human global response to the millions fleeing conflict
Offer safe passage to the UK for more people who have been forced to flee their homes
Do more to help refugees in the UK rebuild their lives
The march starts at 11:30 outside Green Park station and ends in Parliament Square.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 