Mali
The Republic of Mali is a large landlocked state in west Africa with a population of approximately 22.4 million. According to the latest estimations, 94.8% of the population are Muslim (nearly all Sunni), 2.4% Christian and 2% Animistic. 0.45% of the population declare themselves as having no religion.
De facto ‘blasphemy’ restrictions
Although Mali does not have specific ‘blasphemy’ laws, acts deemed to cause religious offense have been prosecuted under broader legislation with strong public support.
In 2022, the national leader of Kemetism (a recent neopagan religion inspired by ancient Egypt that defends African culture against monotheistic religions such as Islam or Christianity), Fakoly Doumbia, was sentenced to one year in prison for “offenses of a religious nature capable of causing disturbance to public order”. Doumbia had criticized the Minister of Religious Affairs, Worship, and Customs for condemning a video circulating on social media showing an adherent of Kemetism stepping on a Quran. The video sparked public outrage and thousands took to the streets following a call to protest by the High Islamic Council of Mali who called for the man in the video to be “killed”.
In August 2023, another adherent of Kemetism, Adama Fomba, was sentenced to five years imprisonment after a video circulated on social media in which he allegedly insulted Islam. The case has been appealed and, according to the latest information available, remains pending at the Bamako Court of Appeals.
Courts have cited the law to prevent cybercrimes and article 58 of the Penal Code as being contravened in such cases. Article 58 of the Penal Code reads:
“Any statement, any act that could create or give rise to racial or ethnic discrimination, any statement, any act intended to provoke or maintain regional propagation, any propagation of news that could undermine national unity or the reputation of the state, any protest contrary to freedom of conscience and freedom of worship likely to pit citizens against each other, shall be punishable with imprisonment of between one to five years, and optionally with a residence ban of between five to ten years.”