URGENT: Nigerian president's malicious plans to move and harm Sheikh Zakzaky - IMN

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The detained leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and his wife have been relocated to an undisclosed safe location amid fears of assassination attempts.

According to reports, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and Zeenat were moved to the unnamed detention center in the capital Abuja on Saturday.

PRESS STATEMENT BY IMN:

URGENT ALERT

We have reliably learnt of a sinister attempt to forcibly take Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky to an unknown destination, claiming “orders from above.”

We vehemently reject any such attempt.

This is coming up at a time when a federal high court has ordered his release. Rather than complying with the judgement, the Directorate of State Security is out with this sinister plot aimed at  keeping him perpetually and possibly harm him.

We wish to alert the general public and the international community about this desperate attempt by the Government to scuttle the fundamental human rights of our leader, that were only affirmed by the courts a few days ago.

The federal government would be held responsible for any untoward thing that will happen to Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife in the custody of the DSS.

SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT MEDIA FORUM OF IMN
10/12/16

In early December, the Abuja division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria announced that both of them should be released unconditionally. After a few days, Kaduna State authorities called for Zakzaky’s prosecution for the alleged "lawlessness" of the IMN.

In October, authorities in the state declared the mainstream Shia group as illegal as part of the state crackdown against the Muslim community.

The prominent cleric and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2015, after deadly clashes between the supporters of the IMN movement and Nigerian troops.

Nearly 350 members of the Shia movement were killed in the clashes. The sheikh was brutally injured and his house was reportedly destroyed by the army in the incident.

After detaining Zakzaky, the Nigerian government stepped up its crackdown on the IMN. In November, nearly 100 IMN supporters were killed when Nigerian forces fired live rounds and teargas at mourners during a peaceful march ahead of the Arba’een mourning rituals, which mark 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), the third Shia imam. Authorities also destroyed a number of buildings belonging to the IMN.





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