An anti-Muslim Nigerian atheist was beaten by his family, placed in a psychiatric hospital, and now faces the possibility of execution, after he reportedly renounced Islam and declared himself an atheist, human rights workers stated.

The 29-year-old Mubarak Bala is said to have been forcibly medicated by his Muslim relatives, despite doctors giving the man a clean bill of health.

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Bala resides in Kano state which is a primarily Muslim region and adopted Sharia (Islamic Law) in 2000.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union stated that after Mr. Bala told relatives that he didn't believe in God, they took him to a local doctor to see if he was mentally ill.

After the doctor assured his family that Bala was in perfect health, they took him to a second doctor who then declared that the Nigerian's atheism was a side-effect of him suffering a personality change.

Mr. Bala was then forcibly committed to a mental institution and only able to contact activists after obtaining a smuggled phone.

According to a statement released on Reddit, Bala, who is a chemical engineering graduate, "is being held in a secure psychiatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, Nigeria. He has been beaten and is currently being drugged.

"His father is a politically powerful individual who has had him committed, against the advice of a medical professional. He is an Islamist supporter of Boko Haram.

"The real reason for this outrageous and inhumane action is because Mubarak has renounced Islam and has openly declared himself to be an atheist."

Reportedly, the IHEU has requested that a lawyer take up the young man's case and a Twitter campaign called #FreeMubarak is currently underway in order to raise awareness to Bala's plight and also rally people to sign a petition to free him.

TagsNigerian, athiest, mentally, ill, Islam