Bashar b. Burd's Atheism: Reality or Politics?

Many historical events demand more reflection. One of such cases is Bashshar b. Burd about whom there are different opinions. Some people believe that he was killed because of the accusation of being atheist. However, because of the following reasons, it seems that such a view could be far from reality: 1. He was one of poets that had satire style, so, the caliphs and other government members hated him because he satirized them too much; 2. his poems seemingly show that he was monotheist but there are some poems by him which suggest otherwise; 3. the punishment for atheism was execution but he died as a result of slash (his poses another question as to his death); 4. there are some poems by him asking forgiveness from Allah for his past sins. Even if according to some opinions he was a sinner, according to Islamic education, a penitent has no sin; and 5. the confessions made by the Abbasid caliph regarding his regret about killing the poet is another indication that Bashshar b. Burd was not killed because he was an infidel. Rather, it could be argued that he lost his life because of the hatred of the government members who were criticized by him.