Nigeria commits genocide against Sheikh Zakzaky's family - Senior Iranian official

AhlulBayt News Agency - Secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani warned that the family members of the Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, have been the subject of massacre and genocide by the Nigerian army and government.

"In this incident, we are facing genocide as most members of his (Sheikh Zakzaky's) family have been killed," Larijani told reporters in Tehran on Sunday.

"This issue should be extensively pursued and we will lose no opportunity on the international scene to put it forward," he underlined.

In relevant remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif voiced his country's serious concern over the continued imprisonment and unfavorable health conditions of Sheikh Zakzaky.

"The Iranian foreign minister notified Nigerian authorities of Iran's deep concern about Zakzaky's health during his recent visit to that country," Iranian cleric Ali Fallah Zaroumi, who accompanied the Iranian delegation as a representative of the Iran-based Al-Mustafa International University said.

He said that during his meeting with Nigerian authorities, including the president and foreign minister, Zarif expressed serious concern about Zakzaky’s physical conditions.

The Nigerian army attacked two religious centers of the country's Shiite community on December 12, killing hundreds of defenseless civilians. Later on December 13, the military arrested Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife after raiding their house and killing three of his sons, assistants and followers.

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have demanded setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the killings of their colleagues in Zaria on December 12 and 13, during a meeting with House of Representatives panel.

They have also demanded the unconditional release of their leader Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife.

Also earlier this month, Zakzaky's son complained that his mother and father are suffering from deteriorating health conditions and have been deprived of medical care by the government.




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