As part of activities mourning the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, the group embarked on procession to major streets of Potiskum town, carrying placards with inscription ‘labbayka ya Hussein, Free Zazzaky’. They also chanted ‘labbayka ya Hussein, Free Zazzaky’.
The group’s leader in Potiskum, Malam Ibrahim Lawan stated while addressing his followers shortly after a procession in Potiskum town on Sunday morning.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies, to obey court orders and free the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as the Shiite, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat Ibrahim.
Lawan said President Buhari and the Security Operatives must abide by the provisions of the constitution which stipulates free association. It also said Buhari and the Securities should release the Shiite leader whom the Court has also equally given its ruling for his release.
“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, (FGN) led by the President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to release the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Malam Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and others with immediate effect.”
“The court, an Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, on Friday the 2nd of December, 2016 , gave an order for the release of the leader of the Shia Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.”
The prominent cleric Ayatollah Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2115, 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.
The judge said he had given 45 days for authorities to provide new accommodation for the Zakzaky family. The accommodation is to be in the town of Zaria, Kaduna state, where the family were detained, or in other parts of the state or alternatively any other part of northern Nigeria.
Kolawole said the State Security Service would pay each of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife $78,984 in compensation for the violation of their rights by being held in unlawful custody for nearly a year.
Nearly 100 IMN supporters were killed when Nigerian forces fired live rounds and tear gas at mourners during a peaceful march ahead of the Arbaeen mourning rituals, which mark 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam. Authorities also destroyed a number of buildings belonging to the IMN.
The Nigerian government has stepped up its crackdown on the IMN since the December 2015 deadly incident.
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