Ahlul Bayt News Agency - Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic group in Nigeria, has reportedly been charged with criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances by the Chief Magistrate Court, Kaduna.
El-Zakzaky, who was arraigned alongside some followers by the police, was remanded in prison custody.
It could not be confirmed if the plea of the accused was taken or if they had legal representation.
Olabisi Kolawole, the force public relations officer, said on Tuesday that the high ranking Shiite leader was being prosecuted for incitement and public disturbances among other charges.
“The Shi’ite leader has been arraigned in court where he was charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbances among others; he has been remanded in prison custody and the case adjourned,” she said.
Sheikh Zakzaky has been in police custody since Nigerian forces illegally raided his home on December 13 and arrested him after reportedly killing those attempting to protect him, including one of the movement’s senior leaders and its spokesman.
A day before the police raid, Nigerian soldiers brutally attacked peaceful Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in the northern city of Zaria, accusing them of halting the road convoy of the army’s chief of staff and attempting to assassinate him.
Both incidents led to the deaths of hundreds of members of the religious community, including three of Zakzaky’s sons. According to media reports, dozens of people are believed to have been killed in the violence, but the Britain-based Islamic Human Rights Commission puts the toll at over 1,000.
Yesterday on birth anniversary of holy Prophet of Islam, Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Imam Khamenei, criticized the silence of Muslim World and said:
“Why is the Muslim world silent when such a disaster has been brought upon a competent and faithful sheikh (Shia cleric Ibrahim al-Zakzaky who is being held incommunicado in military detention) who seeks to bring Shias and Sunnis closer together, and around 1,000 people have been killed and his children have been martyred?” Why does the Islamic World remain silent towards such atrocities?
The massacre of Muslims may have occurred in Nigeria but it aroused the concern of people from all walks of life worldwide. Rallies protesting the horrific massacre have been held in London (UK), Washington DC and New York (US) and Toronto (Canada). There have also been protest rallies in Iran, Pakistan, India, Thailsnd and a host of other countries. In each locale, there were calls for the arrest and trial of the Nigerian army chief Tukur Buratai.
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