The cost of being an atheist (Documentary) - BBC Africa
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- On April 5th 2022, Mubarak Bala - the president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria - plead guilty to charges attached to blasphemy. The sentence that followed caused shockwaves throughout the country, reverberating around the world, and placing the threats to freedom of expression in Africa’s most populous country under new scrutiny.
BBC's Yemisi Adegoke follows Bala’s story and those of others who have decided to be openly atheist in Nigeria, one of the most religious countries in the world.
#atheist #nigeria #bbcafrica
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To all my African atheist brothers and sisters, keep fighting! Best of luck from an Indian atheist.
My take on it, Blacks as a whole (especially as applying to both African and American Blacks [maybe one more so than the other and vice versa]) they/we fail in these four to five main areas: 1) The Idea Of A Non+proven One All Omnipotent God/Religions; 2) Not Having Overall Desire Or Values Toward True Ancient, Historical Knowledge & Science; 3) Negative Female Rulership By Non+Postnatal Trained ('Crooked Natured') Women; 4) Not Having Economic Productive Type Values (Needing Someone Else To Do What You Yourself Can Do While Also Not Maximizing On The Full Utilization Of Your Community's Or Continent's Natural Resources) & Finally, 5) The Allowed Destruction Of Family.
Big love man
Thank you.
All of you are going to hell.
@@Laoriginal718Who told you this??
The jews???
And also you should prove us that hell exist before saying that we're going to hell for not worshipping your extreme narcissist god.
As an African athiest i want to say a big thank you for this documentary. I think we need to keep speaking up to normalise free thinking.
Chinese ex atheist here
@@zacksmith5963 and so?
@@fa9183 so ?
If u can be atheist, i can be ex atheist.
And fun fact ... racism doesn't affect us .
Hello, fellow African Atheist.
@@nomxhosapekani7966 ex atheist here
Zimbabwean Atheist, Secularist and Humanist here. Blasphemy is a victimless crime, We all stand with Mubarak.
Much respect and solidarity with you. I am an atheist as well from the Philippines.
Blasphemy is the worst offense any human can commit. It's a direct attack on God's person/character. Blasphemers have the propensity for corrupting society on a massive scale. So it's reasonable in a theocratic government to eradicate such evil from the society. Blasphemy laws were made because people understood that blasphemy is worse than murder in terms of moral weight. Not long ago, apostasy and blasphemy carried the death sentence because in the spiritual or metaphysical order they lead to the death of the soul of individuals, and if allowed to spread and not nipped in the bud, they corrupt the entire society which in short order lead to the death of the society.
@@talwyn_cc I am actually staying in the Philippines right now, I have been staying in North Gate Alabang Muntinlupa for 6 months now.
Zimbabwean atheist here I was so disappointed when I came out and no one cared at all in my small village, I expected persecution or being shunned but none of that Nigeria can take a leaf from Zimbabwean culture
@@takudzwamazwienduna wakasvika sei kwese ikoko
As a Nigerian and an atheist, I can relate with what the dude went through. People here aren't ready to discuss their beliefs with logic and any form of critic to their religion is an insult. It's already an insult to human intelligence to believe that a man split the moon into two or that a man raised his hands and the red sea parted ways.
Tobi Oguns this shows the limits of your human intellect. It was by the permission of their Lord that those miracles occurred not by there hands alone. That part would be impossible. It was to show the people the power of their Lord and to affirm their faith and to submit and believe in him alone with no partners. What you said shows that speaking without the proper knowledge is dangerous. Just as you dont breathe the air you live by your own means nor do you wake yourself up every morning. Stop telling people he does not exist. You will find out that you were truly wrong. You must think you just popped out of thin air.
@@musawynn621 lmao no we popped out of our moms 🤣🤣🤦🏾
@@jaklinhyde 🤣
lol... You're making extraordinary claims that require extraordinary evidence sir. Until you're able to prove that such things actually happened with divine intervention, there's no need having this discussion. It was written in a book isn't evidence..
@@judybash9393 you wouldn't believe it if you saw it with your own eyes. You're the type that would have found another excuse not to believe what you saw.
As a humanist and an atheist, my heart goes out to all Nigerians who do cannot freely express their beliefs. Much love from the UK
What if a Nazi or an extremist says and express his opinion or beliefs, do you will stop him sharing his ideas or will you consider this as a "freedom of speech"?
@@ashraf7242 never. anyone is entitled to their beliefs regardless of whether I believe in them or not. Who am I to dictate my beliefs are above those of others?
@@ashraf7242 he should be free to express his beliefs, so that they are open for everyone to attack and criticize.
@@ashraf7242 you really thought you did something with this comment 💀
@@ashraf7242 You see, incitement to kill people publicly should be illegal, the religious radicals and the Na*is you said and anyone who incite to do end someone's life should be IN JAIL !!
Man said "there are some insults that you can't sleep...", what a fragile ego he has.
There are thousands of us atheists in Nigeria who live in fear because of stupid laws and religious adherents like this.
Why is he so upset? Can't his God fight for himself?
I know right!
Pls. is there a meeting place for people like us. It can be so lonely.
@@bibaolaitan5189 I can understand the feeling. Sadly we don't have enough meetings for us. We mostly interact on twitter and clubhouse.
What gaslighting you do
Religious punishment are always worst than "Religious crimes"
Those administering these hard sentences should be in jail for miscarriage of justice
Source
Source
Ketchup
Even as a Nigerian born in the West I haven't told any of my family that I'm atheist and will probably perform Christianity when around my family for most of my life. Knowing this is what awaits back in my homeland is deeply distressing and my heart goes out to Mubarak and his family.
Religion should be a personal choice and someone should not be prosecuted for sharing their disbelief.
As a black American Atheist I
was surprised and sadden wi.
the sentence. Black people
are treated like dirt in Arab
(Muslim) nations. Why we
adhere to this rubbish called
religion and all these false
gods is beyond me.
Brother being an atheist is really illogical. I understand rejecting religion but don’t reject God
@@ryanhunter5594 says the one who belives in talking snakes
@@ryanhunter5594 LOL! If you believe in god why not the Easter Bunny? Its just as ridiculous. How old are you and you still believe in stories you were told as a kid.
Please read Saint Augustine. He can relate to the pain you are feeling now. He has the answers you need.
I'm a black atheist who grew up in Africa and now lives in the USA. I became an atheist, because I read the scriptures. I started asking questions to various religious leaders. As I got different answers for the same questions I started doing my own research: Who authored the books in the bible? Why were some books chosen and some others rejected (Book of Enoch, Gospels of Mary Magdalena, ...ie.), Where is the non-biblical proof of the biblical claims? Does religion make any sense? What roles did/does religion play in racism? slavery? Colonization? discrimination? It became quickly apparent that religion was made up to control people. I feel for the family of Mubarak. Most of my family doesn't know my atheism. But, I have stopped going to church. African have started recognizing the damages religion does to people. Many TH-cam channels have been discussing this topic very seriously.
way to go brother! from an atheist exmuslim from indonesia.
I can understand when a westerner says he is an atheist because he has not seen any spiritual manifestation. their churches are just plain theoretical talking about God they have never experienced or seen in action. They have not also seen the manifestation of demons and the display of vicious witchcraft but an african who grew in a witchraft infested environment, then progressed to the church era where signs and wonders are an everyday occurrence in crusades, sundays deliverance churches, prophesy, deliverance with demon crying out of people saying things that are pot on with scriptures should not say God doe not exist except he is extremely stupid.
God has asked you to accept the gospel repent and be baptized then get t know him then you will get the answers to every question in your head.
Bro you must be very silly being an african with so much evidence in spiritual things yet joined western fools in their ignorance of spiritual matters
I'm an ahteist but I disagree with you here. Religion was not made to control people, religion is USED to control people. There is nothing wrong with religion in of itself, it is some practitioners in those communities. Half African, half European btw. Living in Europe.
@@CalmNoises and as an idiotic devil's advocate you don't know atheism is a religion too
@@CalmNoises Modern day religion is a tool of control. I don't know many governments that don't use governments that don't use religion to control their citizens.
When Bush launched an attack on Iraq, he spoke on TV and his words were that he prayed over his decision. The majority of supreme court justices in the USA are from the federalist society. A religious organization.
You shall not silence us!
I stand with Mubarak #PROUDATHEIST
But your name is Silent warrior 😂👍
@@Dmatterarising Still a warrior ;)
Ex atheist here
@@zacksmith5963not sure if it's a little too personal, but would you mind sharing what made you believe in God with critical thinking? I always see Ex Christians/Ex Muslims stories, but it's interesting to see the other way around
@@bruh......2005 i lived as an exmuslim myself
The hypocrisy of atheist community
The made up lies about islam
The scientific approach shiwed atheism is flawed so i had no reason to ge an atheist
This is the worst they can do. They have proven Mubarak right; that religion takes away your humanity and sensibility.
It's really a pity
It is not religion, it is islam. There are many well-known atheists in christian-majority southern nigeria. no one harasses them. Muslims who convert to christianity in northern nigeria are persecuted as much as atheists, even worse.
Yes, he did. Most religions will come for you and your family. Nigeria has a Huge statue of a White Jesus erected by a Nigeria Businessman in 1996. Sad.
Thus man sees through the falseness and danger of MAN'S RELIGIOUS CULT!!!!!
You are wrong. The cause of evil, and people treating each other badly, is not caused by religion, but by the wickedness of man’s sinful nature which rebels against G d (and anyone being in authority over him) and His ways- which are perfect. Even hardcore Muslims that I know say that religion is *supposed* to make you better. Religion just for the sake of being religious might be useless, but true relationship with God will always treat others well, and even putting others *before* themselves - with goodness and kindness, and not with evil.
All of the great good in history has been due to the grace and do-unto-others philosophy rooted in Christianity. Even if history isn’t being taught accurately anymore, intelligent people can do the research instead of just repeating convenient tropes.
@@worshipdancer The golden rule ("do unto others...") predates religion, especially the Abrahimic religions that copied and pasted from one another.
Mubarak's kidnap and persecution is motivated by religious sentiments and nothing more. People motivated by religion act without thinking nor empathy because the words of their gods cannot and should not be questioned. This is why an educated person sees nothing wrong with another human being killed because the latter criticized or insulted someone they never met nor saw, or act as the christian crusaders. Religion is the major meduim I know through which a large group of people would willfuly harm, segragate, persecute and condenm another who does not act or think like them, This I believe is based on the idea that people who are not convinced about your ideas should be burnt.
Lastly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is humane, empathetic and logical compared to those holy books that sanction slavery, rape, division, violence etc that you use as moral compasses..
I'm Christian but I find it very sad that anyone would be persecuted for their beliefs, even if they don't align with mine
Actually, they are prosecuted for their lack of belief
thats how all atheist's are treated everywhere by all Muslims and Christians they always wanna convert you or persecute you
@@unclescar5616 im atheist but shut up - actually
@@unclescar5616 actually, they are prosecuted for asumed blashphemy. If anyone says anything negative about the religion they will also have the same problem
That's what Islam and the Church have always done.
The way that religion, Islam AND Christianity, is practiced in Nigeria is alarming.
But the Christians are not locking people away for being atheist
@@RDCFemmes Great. However, that's not my point.
Very uncivilized from the point of view of Nigeria, in this modern world.
It’s alarming all over the continent
Which alarming rate are you talking about? If someone want to be stupid, why can’t he or she be stupid? Must he or she drag people to acknowledge his/her stupidity?
Proudly a Nigerian exmuslim. One day you'll be free Bala.
And millions are replacing you to become Muslims!
Another exmuslim here. Hopefully, we'll all be free one day.
Oh wow!! You're a legend! My fellow apostate ❤️❤️❤️
free in his head Lol. I hope this should be a lesson for him and his entire generation, and people that think like him . freedom of speech is not freedom of transgressing other people's faith . if you can't serve the time, don't do the crime. keep all your atheistic insults to yourself. happy jail Time, for the so-called Mubarak
@@kofakofa6216 Good for them. Anybody is free to join that shitty cult as long as it doesn't affect me.
People like the guy that made the complaint and that was so evidently smiling for the hurt he caused and was so full of himself because he managed to destroy the life of someone are what real evil looks like.
@Lil Trip W does that has to do with the video? Sure there are many things in this world that are evil - government decisions, oil companies destroying the environment, dictators, serial killers etc ...all sorts of shit in this world .... but I think it would be strange for me to come here and start talking about, for example, how BP is shit, even if it very much is, since this is a story about the tragedy in the life of a particular person ..... But on a simple, individual case, this dude making the complaint was evil. And the video was about this - about the little guy that for no particular gain just wants to destroy the other guy and he feels good and is smug about it. Of course the system that actually makes it possible that this sort of things can happen are also evil.
More than 1 thing can be evil, at the same time.
@Lil Trip I didn't realize I was talking with someone who is also evil. 28 years in prison for making an argument is evil and insane. Blasphemy laws are evil and insane, no matter the country.
Everything can be disscussed. Colonialism was horrible. Putting people in jail for 28 years has nothing to do with the evil of colonialism, it is an evil all onto itself.
@Lil Trip I am not from a former colonial country. 98% of the people in my country are religious people, only they do not want to put me in jail and we do not have anti blafemy laws.
People like you make me sad and scared, not disgusted. I believe it is possible to not hurt each other. Right now, with what you do to your own people, putting them in jail for 28 years, you are not hurting former or current colonial countries ... you are hurting your own country.
With this, I wish you a good day and I hope you will encounter people who have a better heart than yours at the moment and that you will see people can have different opinions without someone going to jail.
@Lil Trip I shall go piss off now. Just know, no matter how much you would like to think so, I am not from a western country... but hey don't let facts stop your bad argument.
@Lil Trip Your people will stay in the dark ages, struggling, poor, and low IQ until you realize that this belief of yours is wrong.
If this energy was directed to solve food security and insecurity in the region the citizens would better off
Well, with the number of religious people in Nigeria, why is there food insecurity, oil theft and stealing. It's beyond comprehension.
@@inyourselfbelieve1013 it's like you read my mind 😂
@@inyourselfbelieve1013 Hypocrites! Religious people are hypocrites.
Thank you brother.
Amen
Stories such as these are amazing. It's easy being an atheist in Sydney Australia where I live.
In places such as Nigeria, Iran and Saudia Arabia, it's a death penalty. You are truly inspiring people.
As a Nigerian atheist. As a woman I can't support a religion who opresses me.
My take on it, Blacks as a whole (especially as applying to both African and American Blacks [maybe one more so than the other and vice versa]) they/we fail in these four to five main areas: 1) The Idea Of A Non+proven One All Omnipotent God/Religions; 2) Not Having Overall Desire Or Values Toward True Ancient, Historical Knowledge & Science; 3) Negative Female Rulership By Non+Postnatal Trained ('Crooked Natured') Women; 4) Not Having Economic Productive Type Values (Needing Someone Else To Do What You Yourself Can Do While Also Not Maximizing On The Full Utilization Of Your Community's Or Continent's Natural Resources) & Finally, 5) The Allowed Destruction Of Family.
Can it be said that there were some Superior Beings (who themselves likely were also melanated) sought to keep the then less mentally advanced planet inhabitants (us) perpetually obsolete and weakened by simultaneously mutating other racial stocks from our genome while simultaneously causing a planetary hatred for melanation, the essential (organic) element/compound that would eventually promote our mental & spiritual advancement? Simply put: jealousy towards our true potential.
As a Christian, I believe this is heartbreaking and not right! A lot of people who claim they are believers, are actually insecure about their beliefs and are afraid. They suppress their own questions. And so they lash out at anyone who triggers these insecurities.
I am personally so secure in my belief in God, that I have no problem living and existing with people who do not believe like I do. Because my God will not disappear just because someone questions Him, etc.
To my fellow Christians. You serve a BIG God. Stop using force, pressure, and certainly trampling on the rights of others!
Who's trampling on others right? Tell the atheists too to stop insulting religious people all about, I mean why would you spend your life mocking and bashing people for practicing their religion, it means you are are looking for trouble.
@@alabidavid2895 why do you care? If they’re mocking your religion, but you know the truth, stop listening to them?
They have no part to play in your destiny.
If ur a Christian, Jesus said you wd be persecuted. What happened to turn the other cheek. Instead, Christians have decided to do the persecuting of others.
People want to act like junior Holy Spirits and force things only God himself can change. Have FAITH. U serve a BIG God.
@@alabidavid2895 "Tell the atheists too to stop insulting religious people"
Which of these statements is more insulting, more dangerous to society?
1. "I'm not convinced that there is a God, because I don't see that there's sufficient evidence to meet the claim and I just don't happen to have the level of personal faith necessary to bridge that gap."
2. "Your denial of God is against the law, so I'm going to call the police and have you arrested for blasphemy. If you don't shut up you could be executed."
bravo! Thank You!!!
@@alabidavid2895 critiquing isn't insulting and if your belief get shaky just because someone critiques your faith then maybe your faith isn't so strong after all. Some food for thought. Only people that are 100% confident in their beliefs do not get swayed by verbal critique.
As an atheist from Brazil and now living in the US. Thank you brothers. People like you has made it possible for people like me to not have to fight to not be shunned, arrested or even killed for being who I am.
No todo Brasil es Acre ni todo Estados Unidos es Mississippi
Filipino atheist here. Baptized under the Catholic religion, raised as a Born-Again Christian. In my country, there are so many people who post bible verses and their religious activities on their social media accounts but are at the same time, they work as trolls and propagandists for a corrupt administration.
What's even more interesting about many religious people is they elect leaders who violate human rights, preferring fascist rule over freedom and democracy. Here's what I learned over the years, free nations that are secular, are far more industrialized and have fewer cases of violence and crime compared to countries that are more religious, which reek of extreme poverty, violence, overpopulation, rampant corruption and high levels of criminality. The duality of the deeply religious spells hypocrisy.
For this I respect and support Mubarak Bala for his courage. Thanking BBC Africa for making this documentary.
The title of this video should be "The cost of being reasonable in Africa"
That's accurate.
Atheism isn't reasonable just an opinion lol
@@colemerchant8926 sure...lol :D
@@colemerchant8926
How can not believing in something be an opinion? Is not collecting stamps a hobby?
@@yikwanwong8267 opinions are subjective especially if your atheist, if you don't believe in a creator with definite morals than every opinion and belief is subjective to each person because atoms floating in the air aren't the sole legislators of morality in the grand scheme of it.
I think the gentleman that issued the petition said it all (7:50) when he said “he crosses the line touching someone they hold dear more than their mothers and fathers.” When someone cares more about their religion more than their relatives, and friends, and fellows on Earth they have “crossed the line” into dangerous delusion in my opinion.
Yeah I don't get how someone could love their religious figures more than their family
Well actually as a matter of fact, I kid you not... That's actually a major precept from the Islamic faith to hold the prophet to much higher regards that your whole relatives.
That's the reason why I'm scared of what my own family is capable of doing if I ever let slip up my loss of faith. It really leads to a sad existence where it's difficult to judge the worth of any attachments you have...
Amen to that
This is insanity
Having said that, a certain Jesus of Nazareth is quoted in the New Testament as requiring that of his followers so it is not all that surprising.
South African Agnostic here. im happy to see rise of Atheins/ Agnosticism in Africa. Big love for my atheist/ agnostic brothers & sister in Nigeria. We are in this together.
I'm a proud atheist and secular humanist! I admire You Mubarak! You're so brave!
You admire him go and share his jail sentence.
I pray Jesus finds you..he loves everyone especially people like you
I love this comment section 🤣🤣🤣🤣 we have a Christian and a Muslim here
don't worship your self, atheism is nothing but worshiping your ego. come and submit your will to that of your creator. the creator of this universe.
@@abdulazizsaleban8467 that's dumb, Athesim literally means not believing in God point final
I am an exmuslim and live in a country where, according to Pew, 75% of the people believe I should be executed. I deeply feel the pain of these poor folk.
I am ex atheist now muslim
I see people atheists claiming religion is cause of all evil . And at same time have 0 issue with wars and world wars and using public funding for political gains
Even u cant counter islam
The American ea dawa believes you don't even exist they say they're is no such thing as a x Muslim! I say welcome home brother love you so much from a fellow atheist!
@@mikehunntt5338 whatever that means . Lived as an exmuslim
Nothing great about it
@@zacksmith5963 ea dawa is a American Muslim he's on live right now preaching he says if anyone says they left the religion then they were never really a moooooslum lol
@@mikehunntt5338 i come across exmuslims and atheists telling people like me same thing ... next
he’s a stepping stone in their history and that’s a very hard path
Stepping stone to what exactly?
To logical reasoning
This is Mandela 101, get locked up fighting for freedom.
@@judybash9393 ohh God here comes the colonial mindset again 🤦🏾♂️
@@intello8953 secularism isn't a colonial mindset. Christian missionaries would like a word if you think so.
There is no protection in Nigeria, expecaliy if you talk any "bad thing" about Islam
Fr they have a christain population but the christain never becomes president cause thier population isn't enough😢
Africa needs secularisation for people to come back to their senses, religion has clouded and dumbed down people, this is ridiculous😡
Good luck with that, 80% of the continent still has medieval perspective on reality. They don’t look to the future however romanticise a past they know absolutely nothing about.
If their wasn't religion, God knows that I would have done
@@rayandjibril2921 If the only thing stopping you from doing bad things are religion, then you have much bigger problems than that.
Religion won't stop you from committing bad deeds, if that is what you want.
You should seek help, if you think you need it.
For real
24 years in prison because someone else couldn't handle something they read on the internet.
If he’s so easily-triggered, he must be hiding something.
Had he said the same things about an african religion nobody would've cared
That's what breaks my heart as a black man
All religion deserves criticism.
@@Paine137 You missed the point. Africans would kill for an imported religion but don't value their own ancestral religions.
@@Paine137 his point is that Africans are willing to kill over an ideology that isn't theirs.
@@Paine137 Exactly but for this world only African religions deserve criticism; No man go to jail for criticizing afro beliefs in Nigeria 😜
So the problem isn't discrimination, it's that the wrong people are doing the discriminating?
When one person suffers from a delusion it's called insanity, when many people suffer from a delusion it's called religion.
When many people think men can get pregnant they are called foolz
Ebu imagine someone going to jail for 24 years while rapists get away with 15 years old. Mind rotten to the core
@@andriontech how is that different to believing a virgin can get pregnant?
Religion is just fascism with extra steps
Textbook example of committing a blatant logical fallacy called red herring... What did he say that remotely resembled "men getting pregnant"
Any religion so easily upset , is not a faith worth following
I just dont understand how religious people can threaten death on another person
24 years in prisonment for saying I don't believe in someone you believe in... Wow... The aliens are really watching...
And they would be smart to stay away from these primitive humans with their superstitions.
@@FactStorm 💯
Looking through a telescope
Alien : I told you they are not ready yet
No wonder why Africa is the most backwards continent 🤦♂
WE HAVE THE INTERNET...most religions cannot keep up their lies. Thanks Mubarak for standing up to the most difficult human construct, much respect and salut! If there is a go fund me for me I would gladly support.
I can’t imagine for a minute that they really adapted the religion that helped in enslaving them. That’s wild
Solaris you think christianity was any better? No, it was way worse, in fact. And btw slaveri has allways been a way of life among africans themselves, like in all other societies around the globe, directly or indirectly.
@@malenedietl3369 You're right that slavery has been around forever, but it was the Christian countries which pushed to make it illegal. There are still millions of slaves (domestic maids and construction workers) in Muslim countries today. Bought and sold like cattle, ranking people based on their ethnicity etc.
@@malenedietl3369 what are you even talking about? You can’t comprehend this simple sentence?
@@malenedietl3369 He makes a valid point yet you find away to input your unreasonable post as though you make sense. He is talking about adopting the same religion that was used to enslave their forefathers using it to oppress others . Please, try to be reasonable for once.
@@solaris5922 blabla
I'm an Atheist in the Philippines and I could not even tell my family and my friends about it because I fear that they wouldn't understand. It's been more than a year since I decided to leave our religion but I'm still pretending that I'm a Christian because non-believers aren't accepted in here. Religion affects your daily life and I have no choice but to pretend to be a part of it. And it makes me really sad when people like Mubarak needs to go through these horrible things for choosing to voice out their thoughts. It's really terrifying to be surrounded with God-loving but inhumane people.
I'm also going though the same, i'm afraid if I tell them they would cut me off, or worse. But the most important thing to do , is to know who you are and what you stand for and try to be independent.
@@ABNAOS you are right^-^. I'm very happy in leaving the religion. It is kinda hard because I can't be open about it but it gave me more peace knowing that I made this decision myself.
You are not alone, I am also going through the same challenge. However some of us don't know how to pretend, we are just real. I would rather be free and hated or persecuted than live in the slavery of pretending to be what I am not.. but I understand that some religions are more wicked than others..
My pinay wife's family knows I'm atheist but they all love me cause I got that cash baby!
@@truthandrighteousness I also wanted to be true to everyone but sadly, I don't want to lose my relationship with my family(especially my parents) and friends. They're not really that familiar with Atheism so it's really hard to consider opening up to them.
I am Kenyan and am confused if an African country can jail fellow African for refusing to accept a foreign religion, Nigeria has a long way to go.
I don't believe in any kind of gods I am African we were raised based on tribal beliefs and I chose to follow that, sometimes I am just happy Kenyan we don't have this kind of BS in our country.
Because we are majority Christian. Northern Nigeria is majority Muslim and Sharia Law is followed as well. Islam is not like Christianity. Any verbal/other attacks against Mohammed are to be punished.
Remember in France the newspaper company that was attacked and people were murdered for the Mohammed Cartoons?
@@cindyndeda532 i have no problem with who are the majority in Nigeria what I don't get is how religion founded in Mecca outside Africa can get an African jailed for 24 years that is crazy and history will judge them harshly one day. Islamic or Christianity is not an African creation its foreign.
actually there is case that has been filed by theists in Kenya seeking to illegalize Atheism, we are currently contributing to finance our defence. If we do not protect our country we will end up like Nigeria
@@davianoinglesias5030 the good thing about our country Kenya is we can petition its repeal anytime any day even the Parliament can not approve it.
@@Village_BoyA Arabian slave trade brought Islam to Africa. If you think of the world as interconnected you'll realise religion spreads. Like Buddhism, started in India over 2 millenia ago and it reached Japan and China. And China has a way higher percentage of Buddhists than India.
I know Mubarak and tell anyone who cares to know that he's the first northern atheist I met in my life. A soft-spoken man, I'm constantly horrified that the entire apparatus of the justice system was used to convict and imprison him because someone's beliefs were "offended". I feel terrible that there's practically nothing I can do in a nation where a lady was slaughtered and burnt for an alleged WhatsApp message. It's really frustrating.
I hope you keep in touch with him and encourage him any way you can. This is a miscarriage of justice.
Pls I hope he's OK & is dere anyway 2 reach him?
@@clarkporter1340 I hope he is fine. I don't know of any way of reaching him for now. Thanks for asking.
@@kodekubenini6163 I'll be honest, I don't. Maybe that's my biggest disappointment: I have barely done anything.
@Belltown Daisy I don't know of any means to reach out to him at the moment.
This is utterly appalling. The sooner people decolonise their minds and reject ALL religion the better for us all! I’m proud to represent as both a black humanist and atheist #freemubarak
Stop spreading islamophobia and anti Muslim hatred and live happily.
Islamophobia is not welcome
@@alamgirhossain2791 She never made an Islamophobic remark, merely saying all religions are harmful. Seriously its like your just looking for a reason to be triggered.
@@alamgirhossain2791 Where did she mention Islam in her statement?
She was just saying that organized religion creates more problems than solutions in the continent and amongst Africans as well as.
@@alamgirhossain2791 Murderer! Abuser!! Killer!! Evil!! You're evil!
@@M3l_0N666 He probably studied in one of those islamic schools, where they are not even taught to reason, and hence he blindly follows the herd
We stand with you Mubarak ❤️
Religion does not tolerate questioning because once you question it, it falls apart. That "lawyer" is just an educated islamist. The issue was not because they felt offended by his words (Muslims are offended by anything not islamic) , the problem is if he's allowed to talk sense into people, they will move away from the religion.
Spot on, you hit the nail on the head. You have a good head on your shoulders!
True my brother
This is true. You can look up Christians in Iran or Iraq
Difficult to express how much religion is at the root of Nigeria's problems
Everyone whether born Christian or Muslim has got the right to chose whatever they want to believe in. This is just all about lack of freedom. It doesn't make any sense and outright hypocrisy to arrest this man.
conviction on basis of foreign religion. absolute nonsense. its like believing which one is the better fruit mango or orange🤷🤦🥱
No one is born christian nor Muslim. We come to this world naked and innocent
True
But there is not apostasy law in Christianity
Thank you, BBC, for highlighting our experiences in this part of the world. I'm one of the lucky ones. Many Nigerian atheists, like Mubarak Bala, aren't so lucky. For daring to think freely, many of us pay a hefty price.
And for what? A childish game of make-belief whose players can't even make up their minds about the rules, and who, very much like children, always seem to know very little besides the fact that they are right. And they *are* right. All of them. In their own little playgrounds, their own little echo chambers. They alone know the truth, for it is written, in the latest version of some particular version of some particular ancient book, as well as, conveniently, their "hearts". So justified, so sure of themselves, so confident in their flimsy creeds... and yet... so insecure in the face of rational criticism.
Big wonder there.
No matter where you go in the world and what era, some things are the same. As Thomas Paine said:
"With respect to what are called denominations of religion, if every one is left to judge of his own religion, there is no such thing as religion that is wrong; but if they are to judge of each other's religion, there is no such thing as a religion that is right;"
Even as a Christian I absolutely agree with you.
@@myeyeswentdeaf6213 I appreciate that, and hope you can learn and be honest with yourself enough someday to go even further on the path of reason.
God comes in the form of spirit. Man made religion itself. These people are as rational as the stone age mind. They can't see any further than basically..
.
@@tyronsimpson2143 Learn more.
I really can't imagine an ex-Christian being sentenced to such an outrageous prison term because he insulted Jesus Christ. It's really a shame on Umar and Islam that they have allowed their craze of religious enthusiasm to take a father away from his son & a husband away from his wife.
Facts
Yap! Christians will pray for you to change. Jail time is insane and ignorant.
You people do not know the history of Christianity.
Christians killed people, Enslaved people.
I hate Cults
@@raindrops1942 facts
Ugandan agnostic atheist here. Still haven't come out. But am enduring. Please be strong my brothers. ❤
As someone who consider himself an atheist (formerly Catholic) in Indonesia, I understand and empathize with what the people shown here are going through. It's insane that someone could be imprisoned for 24 fucking years just because of some "blasphemous" comments they made against religion online.
I hope the best for Mubarak and his family, and that he will be free once again.
It is very unfortunate to see how insecure religious zealots are. I am very proud of Mubarak Bala and I hope real justice is passed ASAP.
Ikr imagine ruining someone's life because you are scared that your omnipotent God will get his feelings hurt. These guys suck
This is why it’s so important to keep religion and government separate, and why it’s so scary the religious right in America is so powerful.
👐
America is a free country. This crime of life in prison brought against this man for using his freedom of speech will never happen in America.
@@ms.factual720 You are straw manning, because while all of us know this is true on paper, nobody can deny the growth of so-called "christian nationalists". There are articles and videos about it, these idiots haven't even gotten past the 1st amendment.
@@ms.factual720 America has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Higher than China.
Tell me again how it is a free country.
@@ms.factual720 It's not as bad in Nigeria, but let's not pretend the churches don't have their hands in govt and being an atheist is frowned upon in many parts of the country.
Somebody must have tricked him to plead guilty and promised him lesser sentence.
He ended up betraying him. This is why you should not trust religion.
Most people use it to get what they want.
Trust me someone close to him made him realize it would be a soft landing to plea guilty. Unknowingly to him count of charges would be use to calculate the sentence
Trick is not the word. Frighten, scare, under duress, over power etc.
Is there anything amnesty can do for this man?
Nigerians you are arguably the most religious people on our continent, and that's wonderful etc. Does that therefore make you the most moral/upright people as well?
If that was the case we wouldn't have the outrageous corruption we deal with today. I think it is the fear of God that makes people morally upright, and that is very different from religiosity.
Did u watch the video at least Nigeria wants to make a change and change the nirative not everyone must be religious in a African home simple
Nigerians are far away from fundamental moral and ethical principles.
Just a small number
The most moral and the most evil and hypocritical. Watch that Nigerian friend that hugs their Bible and Quran tight, they're the ones who'll be quick to stab you in the back at the bat of an eyelid.
They who say" i'm a muslim"in the first place they deny their nationality their culture their color,muslim religion is invented by Arab people and i'm not Arab 😌
those are all social constructs, dude.
we come from what didnt have a culture, we are all orange, religion is bullshit, and invisible lines dont do anything about these problems.
Most Muslims aren't Arabs.
I am an atheist Arab, was never a Muslim.
Just because an Arab created the Islamic religion, doesn't mean you equate it with all Arabs.
By your logic, a Buddhist has to be an Indian.
So is Christianity.
I agree with you, Africans are following foreign mens religion as if we don't have our own to follow
@@FactStorm it becomes more than faith when it was the creators of a religion who enslaved the people who are now following the religion. It wasn't shared through peaceful means. So in that way, we can trace it back to Arabs.
Nigeria is so crippled by backward "traditionals" religion beliefs even in this 21st century.
I see this among my Nigerian friends in Kuwait. At first I thought they were just not intelligent but some of them are doctors, teachers it was so confused how they would think like this
As person who grew up as a devout Muslim, I have a question to ask the westerners who defend criticism of Islam as being Islamophobic?
The punishment for leaving Islam is death. Do you still think this is Islamophobia?
I do not consider myself a Westerner despite living in Europe. Anyway, a person who leaves the Islamic religion deserve death. Islam is a religion that men, like any other religion on Earth, have corrupted. Spirit of discernment is needed in this 21 century. 2023 and people still are BRAINWASH. I am sure you are the kind of "so-called" Muslim who thinks their religion is better than any other belief. God gives us a brain to use. Sorry. If something is not right with anything concerning a spiritual path. We can say it by respecting others and telling the truth when wrong. For me, it is to be a HYPOCRITE not to dare to challenge injustices and nonsense.
@@nbokomwana9220 I didn’t defend Islam. Islam is a man made religion. I am a critic of Islam. I was talking about westerners defending Islam.
How would it be if the USA imprisoned anyone practicing Islam because atheists felt insulted by it?
Would it be okay?
What is the difference?
24 years?????? 24 whole years?? I honestly don't understand. Its as if the judge was biased.
24 years in prison for that is truly ridiculous. People have commited worse crimes for less.
The difference between atheism and religion is to be an atheist you usually become one when u are an adult just by talking, while religion comes in your life when you are a toddler or by threats and/or punishment from society.
I am a Kenyan atheist and thankyou for the documentary
As an black agnostic in the US, I understand. My own family and some friends act like I have se sort of affliction when religion comes up in conversation.
The black community in the US is very, very religious.
I personally started having big serious problems with religion due to how much bad comes out of it and there is rarely any good.
People are so religious, yet they have disdain towards the homeless and the poor. They will do anything to prevent any if their money helping people who are less fortunate.
Sadly, it's seeming more common to me that 'wealth' is becoming synonymous with 'goodness'. I don't like these Christian sects(or any others, just these are ones I'm around) that seem to preach that if you're poor, it's god punishing you, and if you're wealthy, it's because god wants you to be. It's a nasty mindset, imo that allows people to justify their terrible actions toward their fellow human beings.
" My imaginary friend means more to me than my own parents. I must destroy the man who insulted my imaginary friend."
"you will fall into the hand of Allah you infidel" 😂😂😂😂
These Muslims are a joke
I grew up in the southwest Nigeria, even as a child, I new prominent persons who publicly defined themselves as Atheist, e.g. Tai Solarin and then Wole Soyinka. For us, it’s normal, religious believes belong to the private domain. The north is a different world and sometimes I feel we are not one country. May God save this man,be strong Amina. You are paying a price for the freedom of future generations.
Exactly. I'm from the middle belt of Nigeria and I had uncles and relatives who were free thinkers. Like one of the ladies said, if you have chosen a path it's better you keep it to yourself rather than make it public have issues with people who won't understand you.
Tai Solarin and Wole Soyinka never come out to lampooned or make a caricature of others' beliefs. But Mubarak does just that, especially to Islamic religion. He is free to belief in his atheism and practice it, and leave Muslims to practice what they belief. That is the freedom of association and religion. Nobody ever forced Mubarak to go to the mosque to pray or to read the qur'an.
@@garbadanladi1500 Wole has so many times being arrested , during the 80s , muslims head of state dont like him , Anytime i remember how british force us together i became upset ...islaims and christininy are white and arab religion , free that shit , it has brought noting but pained.
He doesn't believe in God. How can God save him.
@@The_Observer0000 🤣🤣🤣 how many times have God save people that believe in in publicly especially the onces killed by Islam's in the North???
*24 YEARS IN PRISON* ??? TERRIBLE!!!! FREE MUBARAK!!! 🤕🤕🤕😟😟😟
Insane story, I hope he finds humane justice soon, and bless his family.
The least we in the West should do is to refuse visas to those who abuse others in their country.
The lawyer who initiated the case, the prosecution and the judge should never be able to desecrate the hotels, the streets, or the shops of London.
The victim's wife should be able to sue in British courts those Nigerians involved in abusing her husband. I have no doubt those involved have properties in the UK, bought by looted Nigerian public assets.
Alas, I'll not be holding my breath, because Europe is chock-full of tyrants and human rights abusers with billions of looted public funds from the Middle East, China, Russia and Africa. They feel so secure that a few of these international thugs-n-thieves (TnT) even bought famous assets, like top football clubs. We even rewarded thousands of them with visas, PhDs and citizenships.
#ShameOnUs
I left Islam about 2 years ago when I realized that Islam actually made people worse, not better, both morally and intellectually. More power to atheists and ex-muslims around the world. The Earth will be cured of this cancer someday.
I'm feeling extremely disturbed by this case.
One more time, the bigotry of Religion prevails.
I had been labelled an atheist by people around me because I refused to accept the religions of the slave makers. I believe in God but not in the way people expect others to exercise such belief. Nigeria is a very dangerous country to live in if you have strong views about religions that is at variance with the norm.
But this story was made sensational by the slave makers media!... How are you feeling now!?!
@@kofakofa6216 With resources they stole from Africa.
Religious freedom is a problem in Nigeria. The country needs explicit laws guaranteeing freedom of religious expression and protection for people who have different religious views. Atheists are at the most risk because they are universally reviled by people of faith. Next are those who follow African Traditional Religions. Muslims and Christians consider them infidels. Yet, broadly speaking, even Christians cannot live freely in Muslim dominated areas and vice versa.
Recently, a female student was killed by a mob under what is now alleged to have been a false accusation of blasphemy. Even if it is true that she blasphemed, how can a sane society allow that?
You summarised the issue in your last sentence, the society is at fault, making new laws means nothing as they will never be enforced by people who don't share compatible values.
Muslims live well in Christian areas
Religion is normalized derangement..most people are infected by superstition..it's unsettling.
@@FactStorm it's ok for people to believe what they believe.
Freedom of religion does not absolve you of responsibilities and subsequent repercussions. Be an atheist all you want but do not insult someone else’s religion or their religious figures. That’s simply irresponsible.
Weldone BBC. Proud atheist here. We will continue to speak and air our views without fear!
You can be whatever you want to or call yourself whatever there are certain things that when you says in your community or Society and you know it will bring you distraction especially try to look down on people's religion and try to disrespect people's belief definitely you know your life will be destroyed then don't do it look today Kanye West in America just for expressing his beliefs on the Jews look how they are crucifying him
You’re a fool if you don’t see the real agenda. The people behind all the “extremists” are atheists trying to destroy the only thing that can protect a man from enslavement. The Bible and Quran are manuals to surviving the evils of this world.
The Bible and Quran teaches you how to overcome evil and oppression by teaching you how to work on your mind. Mind over matter!
@@Almascloud That seems like an amazing oxymoron if you ask me.
Even so, I would greatly appreciate if the more extreme morons of *ANY* faith, would practice some mindfulness and calm.
Africa need to put this same energy into development and improvement of everyday life. Give the children first class education and opportunities to improve the country. 👊🏿👌🏿👍🏿
Aptly on 💯
I remember when I first met Leo Igwe in Ibadan where the Nigerian Humanist Association office started. I knew immediately that I have been unreligious for a long time. Humanism helped me to take a stance finally.
But why bother to take a stance? Why not just do your thing and survive through the cultural norms of wherever you are?
@@DrMarvel562 What business is it of yours? Let the man be.
Humanism bootlegs religious (Christian) principles. It used to be Religious Humanism because they were honest about where their ideas came from; they only rejected some specific religious ideas such as belief in God. Due to the time gap, the 'new atheists' of today call themselves "Secular Humanists" because they either aren't aware or in denial of the origin of some of the presuppositions they hold.
@@FactStormI could ask you the same question.
@@Lerian_V well, the idea of killing nonbelievers is well entrenched in the bible and quran so no, humanism is not a product of religion
This is just sad and heartbreaking. It's really difficult being atheist in Africa.
i am one and it is really hard for me
Shameful.. really shameful. I have no words. Hope for the day when faith in these so called monotheistic religions will be a thing of the past.
Religion's biggest enemy is education
Dream on.
@@Eneroi subscribed to Eric Berg. A charlatan. Not surprised
Its shocking and disturbing that Nigerians are treating each other this way over an arab man who lived 1400 years ago.
Didn’t you see or read what some to a Christian girl in a university. Her classmates burnt her alive on the university campus before of lecturers and other students.
My question is why are we so poor in Africa but we pray everyday.
@@n.m6249 Not everybody is poor in Africa. Because most of the leaders are corrupt and I guess people in Africa do not pray and ask THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for leaders after his own heart. Again pray for them to do the right thing when they are in office.
Even though some of them might be occultists, if groups of Christians put away strife, strivings, anger, and all sorts of arguments from among them; repents and confess their sins and call upon THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for a change HE WILL do it.
But you know sometimes, we Christians are lazy and love sleep!!!!!!
@@n.m6249 Because praying is useless. It doesn’t tear the country forward
Although I'm not an Atheist I think that people have a right NOT to believe or practise any religion!
My beart bleeds for my fellow African atheist sisters and brothers.
Imagine being persecuted because you don't believe in a imaginary being🤦🏾♂️
not hard to imagine unfortunately
This is absolutely disgusting and heartbreaking. This case makes it very hard for me to not hate religion. I am so greatful to live in a country where I can speak freely.
Be sure not to forget to vote.
Most religious people vote to pass laws that enforce their believes and if you dont vote then those laws can be added to our existing laws and then your freedom is gone.
You matter, your choices matter, your freedom matters, dont let inaction take those away because then those want to take your freedom away win as they dont giveup.
@@youtubestudiosucks978 💪🏽🩷 your so right.
He pleaded guilty because he must have been threatened with death or promised a lesser sentenced.
At the end they said he pleaded guilty because he thought he would only get a year
Why is it wrong to criticize belief systems without getting people angry?
Because of fear.
People are afraid that they're wrong about religion and they don't want to face that reality.
This is how religion perpetuates, intimidation and fear.
My problem is that national ID card doesn't provide space for the atheist, they must force you to choose one religion. Even the Bank or schools as well.
Lies! There's provision for OTHERS, that covers atheism and anything you believe in
@@BlackTizza I did international passport and there's nothing like others provided, same in voters card, I have 4 bank accounts non of them provided 'others' in their forms.
@@BlackTizza You're full of it, or are ignorant of the situation
By watching this documentary it has given me a sense of relief that I'm not mad
It made me angry that people could so callously support unjust treatment because they can't tolerate hurt feelings.
@@shawnosborne163 What makes you think the punishment is unjust?
@@Lerian_V get a dictionary. Look up the word just or justice and explain to yourself how what the dictionary definition and what you think can be two different things?
@@Lerian_V can't your God fight for himself?
@@fa9183 "can't your God fight for himself?"
God doesn't do anything for himself. God has no need of his own, he's self-fulfilled.
The foolishness of the African to kill his brother for a religion brought to them by their enemy or oppressor is astonishing. All religions whatever it is are just an illusion or parallel realities.
Volume please. Say at maximum.
UAE just banned Nigeria from traveling to UAE. But Nigerians want to kill another Nigerian for a religion of slave masters. This is brainwashing at the highest level.
Why can’t our brothers realize this ? Stupid ignorant fools
It’s infuriates me to my core
Why do you think this is an argument? The legitimacy of a religion is not dependent on who introduced it but rather what it teaches. Atheism came from the West so Africans can also consider that a cultural export of those that oppressed them.
@@fromthesouthofafrica6815 I made a statements that is general. You African do not have your religions and way of life before the arrival of the oppressor? Where are all those practices that are truly ours,
Oh yes we have abandoned them to be saved by what I don’t really know.
I don’t believe in anything including Atheism. Am a humanist who seeks an evidence based approach to almost everything.
This is one of the biggest things hindering the progress of Africa. If I'm an atheist, I will learn to keep it low in situations like this. I will fake my interest in prayers at work and what have you.
Yet Arab countries are flourishing….it is not right to police people’s thoughts and beliefs, however, I don’t think it is one of the biggest issues hindering Africa’s progress. The biggest problems are corruptions and shitty deals with the world super powers, particularly on natural resources. In Southern Africa, religion is a private matter and people can freely criticise other religions….so I don’t agree that it is the biggest issue.
@@TV-bf1vq it's true that Arab countries are flourishing (not all anyway), but religion is used to cover wrong doings in this continent. When issues pulled up and they needed to be talked about or demonstrated against, there are some entities that will choose "let's leave it to God" instead of protests against the wrongdoing. Jobs are given to people of the same believes or of the same congregation. When someone with a different believe is good and needs to be recommended for that in a work place, this person is ignored and praises are given to the person of the same believe (even if this person is not good enough compered to the former). We need to understand that nature is diverse and tolerate it and stop the inhumane acts. Our politicians are having positions or are recognized in religious places, but what do we see? Corruption everywhere... Let's be humane.
@@TV-bf1vq let us not pretend that Arab countries are flourishing because of religion. Without the massive oil wealth Middle East would have been one of the poorest regions' in the world. Religion is a cancer in African society and the way in which it is practised here is very different from the rest of the world. Unless we can learn to emancipate ourselves from this primitivity, poverty will always be our friend.
@@corvusglaive5769 i didn’t say they are flourishing because of religion. I highlighted that they are flourishing in spite of so it’s not the root of African problems. I’m not Muslim so I don’t believe their religion is the reason for their success
I don't obey, enroll, teach, learn, promote, participate, support or fund any religion.
As an american atheist I fear losing my rights recently because if the amount of people openly supporting my country adopting a theocracy. Christians already took away a right of women in roughly half of our states, and furthermore wish to take away even more. But I hurt even more for atheists living in places in which they never had rights.
I get that a lot of people support the idea of a theocracy there, but I don't think it would happen.
Even Christopher Hitchens thinks the baby in the womb is a human. If so, there is no such thing as right to murder the innocent and defenseless. This is not an issue of religion but reason and morality.
@@moleedaboi I would have said the same, but then they elected Trump.
Now it's anyone's game.
As a Christian in America I’ve had it up to here with religious people. The internet has radicalized the religious even more so than they were before. I have my beliefs, but other’s beliefs don’t offend me. You can curse my religion all you want, burn a Bible while your at it for all I care. That’s between you and God. We in America see the violence of ‘Islamic’ extremism there in Nigeria and else where, even the radical ‘Christian’ fundamentalists ain’t much better. Here in America we have a surge of violent radical ‘Christian’ fundamentalists. I put these words in quotes because I do not consider them ‘Christians’ or ‘Islamic’. Once you go violent extremist in any religion you have left your God behind. ‘Christian’ nationalists in America are openly calling for religious rule. The same thing happens in every theocracy. The most radically fundamental, the most extreme, the most oppressive and restrictive will always quickly rise to the top. They end up with the most power. It’s the nature of theocracies. This man getting 24 years in prison for speaking his mind is affront to God. And the guy in the the beginning trying to justify religious critics be punished by law by arguing Muslims will naturally become inflamed into an unlawful violent mob by such words, is unbelievable. I would say the mob using violence is the problem… and the crime, NOT the man using words. Could you imagine how prosperous Nigeria would be without religion. Religion has bogged humanity down for thousands of years and that’s not a problem with God, it’s a problem with humanity. If we can’t practice peacefully, respect each other’s religions and only meet those who use their words against us, blasphemous or not, with our words and only our words then we shouldn’t have religion. Besides, I’m sure God, whoever and whatever he/she/it is cares more about his human creation prospering and treating each other well than he does about us sitting around and praising his name every second of the damn day. If you have kids, would you want them sitting around praising you every second of every day and fighting amongst each other over who loves you more, so much so that they can’t even function without you, til they’re grown adults sitting in the mud saying “Don’t worry, Mommy will do for us.”? Or would you rather they study, work, get out there on their own and become good, caring and successful people who can get themselves on their feet?…who don’t need their Mommies all the time, yet still appreciate what you did for them, but not so much to where they’ll murder their own brother for saying ‘Maaaaan, Mom’s being a b**ch!’
Well elaborated
As a black african man,am always appalled by people who look exactly like me that turn on a brother or sister because of religion,which are all foreign for their information.
Before am anything else,am a black african man first.
Most so called religious non black people DGAF,they'll always choose their own or any other race over a black african man regardless of the religious similarities anytime of day.
So dear black africans, let's never fight eachother over foreign beliefs.
We've been,still are and always will be black africans first.
How about human first? Skin colour shoud not be important
As a moroccan atheist, Thank you
are there many atheists in Marocco?
@@hausiji11hausiji11 yes a lot
By denying god he became a God himself! Such a brave selfless human being. I’m truly touched.
A God that is made of flesh. Laughable
@@shafinrahman2199 What do you claim that your imaginary Jesus was made of?
@@PH-rr8rp Dude ... denying a god doesn't make you one. That's such a stupid comment.
It's like saying that abstinence is a sex position ...
@@shafinrahman2199 have you ever seen god??? Shut up your mouth 🤫
There is a place on this Earth, called "Northern Europe" that is home to the "Nordic nations". This region is simultaneously the *LEAST CORRUPT,* the *LEAST RELIGIOUS* and the *MOST HAPPY* place on Earth.
What a "shock" ...
Like him, there are so many of us in Nigeria, but the Stigma attached even from family members is extremely high.
This social oprobrium and stigma against non believers used to be the case in Ireland up to the 1990's when the Church scandals regarding violence, child abuse, political interference and other abuses became public and the church was found to be covering up and even enabling perpetrators to escape from secular detection, trial and punishment.
Ireland was once a land of active church goers and weekly Sunday Mass was alomost compulsory in as much as many peoples jobs and reputations and business success depended on an outward show of religious practice. Although it was rarely discussed in public many people went along with religious ceremonies and practices in a half-hearted way in order not to "rock the boat" and to appease parents and other authority figures in society.
In the wake of revealed church corruptions and evil doing at the highest level many people left organised religion and became unafraid to be open about their new-found apathy and hostility to most forms of organised religion.
While some have sought alternative forms of spiritual guidance and experiences others have just got on with their lives without any form of organised religion.
The conflict in the North, basically between Protestant and Catholic factions also turned a lot of people off religion and makes many people suspicious of the motives behind preachers and other forms of religious evangelical activities and attempts to convert people to a particular sect or denomination.
Ireland has full religious freedom enshrined in its laws and constitution but this can be tempered with laws against hate speech and incitement to riot which can be used to stifle true debate on such subjects. In short you can be atheist in Ireland and be public about it but it is risky to joke about certain religions in public, some more than others.
Hang in there
Thank you so much BBC Africa, Since I subscribed to this channel 3months ago,I am better informed about my Africa and specifically my Nigeria . You indeed go the Length
I lived in Kano. In my orientation, I was told that I could say i was a Christian but not an atheist. As a worker guest in N Nigeria, I identified as a Christian but not an agnostic, which I am.
This is why I'm so grateful to live in Spain, where blasphemy was decriminalized in 2011. I was raised as a Catholic, which is the common thing here, but I became an atheist at the age of 15. The case of Mubarak makes me extremely sad and angry at the same time. Just because a man felt "unhappy" at someone's opinion about religion, he has the right to send that person to prison for 24 years?! What kind of justice is that? It's not rational! Mubarak didn't harm anyone. There are people posting violent and hateful things constantly and the police do nothing, but they imprisoned a man for a PACIFIC OPINION about religion? It's just enraging. Sending all my strength to Mubarak and his whole family and friends.
religious(christians and muslims) people have always felt threatened by atheist even here in Kenya......faith is something personal.....if I choose not to believe how is that any of your problem.
STOP LYING... nobody in Kenya will attack you for being an Atheist... y'all want to always include Kenya in all messes going on in Africa...there are so many atheists WHo even express themselves loudly on Tiktok...you are idle and looking for a pitty part..rest 🙄
The question is that must he insult our Messenger for him to be an eithiest? Northern Nigeria is Shariah based, he needn't utter all those nonsense things that are too irritating to billions of people especially in Nigeria... This will never be acceptable in our life time or generations to come.
@@goldiegold5562 i am a kenyan...noob.....oh i almost got fired for being "not believing in god"....also a pastor said he wish I would loose my hearing
@@kofakofa6216 Keep your authoritarian primitiveness to yourself.
@@clemente111 , it is a personal engagement with the pastor. It is very wrong to issue blasphemous statements against a religion just because you hold a different view. Besides, he was not forced to practice the religion. It is clearly his hatred for Islam that landed him where he is. He crossed the redlines. There's no ignorance in the law court.
As an Atheist and Humanist, I stand with Mubarak. Here I thought it was tough being a free thinker in Southern Alabama. WOW.
#FreeMubarakBala
oh, we've heard about the bible belt thing on social media, we wish you all the best over there, the struggle is real but being religious is even worse
Yeah as an atheist and humanist, I hope a change is set around the world for other people to live in peace of different faiths and ideas. Especially those that are secular.