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Nigeria atheist Bala 'deemed mentally ill in Kano state' Nigeria atheist Bala 'deemed mentally ill' in Kano state
(about 9 hours later)
A Nigerian man has been sent to a mental institute in Kano state after he declared that he did not believe in God, according to a humanist charity.A Nigerian man has been sent to a mental institute in Kano state after he declared that he did not believe in God, according to a humanist charity.
Mubarak Bala, 29, is said to have been forcibly medicated by his Muslim relatives, despite being given a clean bill of health by a doctor. Mubarak Bala was being held against his will at the hospital after his Muslim family took him there, it said.
The International Humanist and Ethical Union say a Lagos-based group has asked a lawyer to take up his case. The hospital said it was treating Mr Bala, 29, for a "challenging psychological condition", and would not keep him longer than necessary.
Kano is a mainly Muslim state and adopted Sharia (Islamic law) in 2000. Kano is a mainly Muslim state and adopted Islamic law in 2000.
The IHEU says that when Mr Bala told relatives he did not believe in God, they asked a doctor if he was mentally ill. The International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) says that when Mr Bala told relatives he did not believe in God, they asked a doctor if he was mentally ill.
Despite being told that he was not unwell, Mr Bala's family then went to a second doctor, who declared that his atheism was a side-effect of suffering a personality change, the group says.Despite being told that he was not unwell, Mr Bala's family then went to a second doctor, who declared that his atheism was a side-effect of suffering a personality change, the group says.
Mr Bala, a chemical engineering graduate, was forcibly committed to a mental institution, but was able to contact activists using a smuggled phone. Mr Bala, a chemical engineering graduate, was forcibly committed to a psychiatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, but was able to contact activists using a smuggled phone, it says.
IHEU spokesman Bob Churchill said the group was concerned about his "deteriorating condition" and called for his "swift release".IHEU spokesman Bob Churchill said the group was concerned about his "deteriorating condition" and called for his "swift release".
The hospital said in a statement that Mr Bala was "comfortable and conscious".
He had been admitted because he required treatment under supervision, it added.
Mr Bala's lawyer Mohammed Bello told the BBC he intended to arrange for an independent psychological evaluation of his client because of conflicting accounts of his health.