Representative Jamie Raskin, a member of the United States House of Representatives, has expressed his concern regarding the situation of Mubarak Bala, a prisoner of conscience who has been detained in Nigeria for over a year without a fair trial. Mubarak Bala has been charged with blasphemy for openly expressing his atheist views on social media, which is a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
As a defender of human rights and democracy, the representative believes it is the responsibility of the government to uphold the rule of law and to protect the rights of all its citizens regardless of their beliefs or political affiliations. Representative Raskin has called on the Nigerian government to ensure that Mubarak Bala is given a fair trial, and that he is not subjected to any form of torture or ill-treatment while in custody. He urges the government to take swift action to release Bala and to ensure that his rights are fully respected.
He acknowledges that in the current global pandemic, it is essential that we remain vigilant in protecting the rights of those who have been marginalized or oppressed. In his letter to President Buhari, he requests that the Nigerian government inform him of the steps being taken to address this issue. As a member of Congress, he remains committed to upholding human rights, promoting democracy, and ensuring the fundamental rights of all people are respected and upheld.
Rep. Raskin sponsors Mubarak Bala through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s (Lantos Commission) Defending Freedoms Project and leads efforts in the U.S. Congress to free Bala and other prisoners of conscience globally.
The Lantos Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project allows members of Congress to shine a light on prisoners of conscience across the globe and encourage accountability for unjust treatment and operates in conjunction with organizations like the non-profit Freedom House. Freedom House, joined by Freedom Now and Humanists International, recently filed a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention urging for Bala’s release.