"If I ever come out in northern Nigeria to say I am an atheist, it will be an automatic death sentence," said the man, a business owner in his 30s. The most recent instance of a death sentence, issued in December against an Islamic cleric, Abduljabbar Nasiru Kabara, has not been carried out. At least three people have been killed for alleged blasphemy in northern Nigeria in the past year. The latest victim, killed in June, was a Muslim stoned to death after being accused of making comments that blasphemed Islam. Authorities in Nigeria have failed to act to prevent such attacks, and prosecutions have been rare, said Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International in Nigeria.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 07, 2023 16:00 UTC