Nigerian Regime Should Release Sheikh Zakzaky

By: Kayhan Int’l 

It is rather strange for an oil-rich country of Africa, and the most populated one of the Dark Continent, having a Muslim majority, indulging in the most tyrannical ways against its owns citizens by subjecting them to imprisonment, torture, killing and now murdering of peaceful protestors demanding their rights within framework of the national constitution.

At a time when the annual Hajj pilgrimage is approaching and thousands of Nigerian pilgrims are streaming into the Land of Revelation, the most un-Islamic and un-Abrahamic ways are being used to beat and bludgeon a section of Muslim civilians of Nigeria, several of whom attained martyrdom last week.

It was indeed the bloodiest week in Nigeria as reported by the media, and some 25 were martyred on the streets of the capital Abuja.

Whenever we hear of violence, massacres and carnages in Nigeria, one might think that these atrocities are being perpetrated by Boko Haram Takfiris or a similar terrorist group in the West African country. 

No, the killers are not any fringe group, but unfortunately those who claim to be the elected authorities of Nigeria.

Below is the timeline and number of mass killings of civilians in the Northern Nigerian state. 

The figures keep mounting since the bloody massacre of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by the army in July 2014 and again on 15th December 2015 in Nigeria.

In the last incident over a thousand men, women, and children were massacred by the army, which detained and continues to hold without trial in prison the respected leader of the IMN, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.

Surprisingly, the Nigerian regime of Mohamadu Buhari has not arrested any Nigerian soldiers.

The regime which is influenced by the heretical Wahhabi cult of Saudi Arabia is indulging in the persecution of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt of Blessed Household of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), also known as Shia Muslims, who make up around 12 million of the hundred million Muslim population of Nigeria.

The Salafist movement Izala Society is close to both Riyadh and Abuja and its satellite television channel Manara often broadcasts sectarian propaganda, targeting the Shi’a Muslims.

Now it is clear why Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife, several IMN members are facing brutal crackdown by the regime in Nigeria since July 2014.

Islamic Movement in Nigeria, since its establishment around three decades ago, has been raising the banner of justice and resistance in all spheres, which is why it is feared by the Nigerian regime, as is demonstrated by the brutal crackdown on multiple occasions. Surely, the nature of oppression Shiekh Zakzaky and his followers have had to face shows the strength and relevance of such a movement, particularly since oppressors are the corrupt powers. 

The IMN has been known to be a non-violent, non-sectarian Islamic movement for decades, having organised peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations on an annual basis across Nigeria for over 33 years, primarily in the state of Kaduna, of which the movement’s gatherings have been attacked several times by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian army.

Given the nature of this movement, it is not strange that the Nigerian army is carrying out such crimes. IMN is one of the many revolutionary movements in the region, such as movements in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen, that is confronting the global hegemonic powers ruling the world and it is most certainly questioning the regimes in the region such as Saudi Arabia, which feels its dubious claim to legitimacy and authority is being undermined by such movements.

In view of these facts, and as being demanded by freedom loving people all over the world, the Nigerian government should release Sheikh Zakzaky from prison, and send him abroad for medical treatment.

A number of admirers of the venerable Sheikh in different countries, such as Britain, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and India, have requested that the IMN leader should be allowed to choose anyone of these destinations for proper medical treatment.

In case, his condition worsens, and God forbid, if any physical harm done to him, then Buhari and his henchmen will be held responsible.