Humanists International’s representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Kacem El Ghazzali, has made an oral statement calling for authorities in Somalia to protect Prof. Mahmoud Jama Ahmed who has received death threats.

Last week we reported on Prof. Mahmoud, who was originally sentenced to two and half years in prison for ‘blasphemy’ back in 2019. Following an official pardon from the outgoing president of Somalia, Mahmoud was released in January 2020. On Friday 28th February, and again on Friday 6th March, a very prominent Imam in Somalia, Adam Sunnah, used Friday prayers to call for the death of Mahmoud. At one point in the recording from 28th February (heard by Humanists International), Sunnah can be heard saying of Mahmoud:

“Killing this apostate is bad for him in this life but he will benefit from it in the afterlife.”

Humanists International believes Mahmoud to be at serious risk of violence and death. Today the organisation has used an intervention at the United Nations to call on all states and other NGOs to ensure that the Somali authorities protect Mahmoud, and ensure that he is not killed by violent religious preachers or vigilante mobs.

Mahmoud is now living in hiding, away from his family and unable to work, he is being financially supported by Humanists International’s Humanists at Risk fund. We urge anyone who is able to help to make a donation today, or to get in touch if they know any other organisations who can assist us.

Also during the same intervention, Humanists International raised the case of a 17-year-old student and Yemeni national, Tujan Albukhaiti, who was tried on charges of insulting religious feelings because of some tweets. Tujan, who lives in a country where writer Nahed Hatr was assassinated because of similar accusations of “blasphemy,” has also been subjected to several death threats.

Humanists International Chief Executive, Gary McLelland, also commented on the case:

“We are urging all our members supporters around the world to join us in putting pressure on the Somali authorities to protect Mahmoud. There is never any justification for the use of so-called “blasphemy” laws, but this case is even more egregious when we consider the mild statement at the heart of this accusation, from a prominent Somali academic. “Today we asked the United Nations, and all individuals and institutions who value free expression, to join us highlighting Mahmoud’s case around the world. We will not allow him to be murdered with impunity by religious bullies.”