Viewpoint
Nigerian Government’s Step-Motherly Treatment of Shi’a Muslim Citizens
By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
It is unfortunate of the government of a large and important African country, such as Nigeria, having a population of over one hundred million Muslims and possessing the world’s 10th largest proven oil reserves, to take orders from outside for administering domestic and foreign affairs.
This is indeed the sad truth of the current regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is over-awed by the supposed military and economic might of the US, consults the illegal Zionist regime on diplomatic relations with Muslim countries, and is ever attentive to dictates from Saudi Arabia for suppressing Nigeria’s ten million plus Shi’a Muslims.
Last Friday’s fresh burst of violence by Nigerian security forces on a group of peaceful protestors, exercising their democratic right to demonstrate and calling for release of the illegally detained Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, again showed that Buhari, who was recently reelected president, is not his own man.
According to reports, scores of Shi’a Muslims have been injured, some of them seriously, for demanding justice be shown, at least in the blessed month of fasting Ramadhan, to their venerable leader, who has languished in prison without trial since December 2015 in spite of the verdict of the Federal Court to release him.
So blind is the hatred of pro-Wahhabi Buhari for a revered follower of the jurisprudential school of the blessed Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), that he continues to violate not just orders of the Apex Court but the constitution of Nigeria.
Sheikh Zakzaky, is in his mid-sixties, lost his left eyesight in the unprovoked attack by the military forces on the Baqiatollah Hussainiya in Zairah. His wife also sustained serious wounds in the savage assault that led to the martyrdom of some one thousand men, women, and children, including three of the Sheikh’s sons.
Yet the IMN Leaders, who is in illegal imprisonment along with his wife and a large number of followers since almost the past four years, is a picture of piety, patience and prudence. As a devout follower of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, despite his sufferings, he has directed his organization to provide the basic needs of many people of Nigeria, especially in the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan.
Recently, a team of medics from Britain was allowed to visit him in prison, giving hopes to his eventual release, but Buhari, who in the Sheikh’s case, follows orders from both the Saudi and Zionist regimes, dashed the hopes of the Nigerian people, despite the fact the visiting physicians urged immediate treatment for him.
It is being speculated that in view of the approach of the World Qods Day on the Last Friday of Ramadhan (May 31), when Muslims all over the world, including Nigeria, rally to demand end to the oppression of the Palestinian people and liberation of Islam’s former qibla, Bayt al-Moqaddas, the Israelis and the Saudis have pressured and bribed the regime to delay Sheikh Zakzaky’s release.
Even Christians and non-Muslims of Nigeria have called on the president to respect the Federal Court’s verdict and release the Sheikh, pointing out that neither he nor the IMN pose any threat to the security of the country, but as full-fledged citizens have the right, according to the constitution, to practice their religious beliefs, without any discrimination by the authorities.
Moreover, they have said the regime cannot hinder Nigerian people from practicing their religious beliefs, and that too on the dictates of other countries, while turning a blind eye to the Boko Haram terrorists, who are funded by Riyadh.
The latest call for was made last week by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle during his opening of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), that it is time for the government to release the Sheikh.
The call came at a time when the Sheikh clocked 68 on April 20 with three of his previous birthday in illegal detention. The birthday was celebrated amidst tears and colourful but peaceful protest by his followers in Abuja.
Earlier on April 29, the Sunni Muslim chairman of the Kaduna faction of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, had urged the federal government to ensure that justice and immediately release Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
In view of these facts and developments, Buhari should heed the voice of reason by ending the illegal detention of the IMN Leader, on whose meeting with NGO and the medical team from London, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had lauded the government of Nigeria, and suggested that he should be released.
It is unfortunate of the government of a large and important African country, such as Nigeria, having a population of over one hundred million Muslims and possessing the world’s 10th largest proven oil reserves, to take orders from outside for administering domestic and foreign affairs.
This is indeed the sad truth of the current regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is over-awed by the supposed military and economic might of the US, consults the illegal Zionist regime on diplomatic relations with Muslim countries, and is ever attentive to dictates from Saudi Arabia for suppressing Nigeria’s ten million plus Shi’a Muslims.
Last Friday’s fresh burst of violence by Nigerian security forces on a group of peaceful protestors, exercising their democratic right to demonstrate and calling for release of the illegally detained Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, again showed that Buhari, who was recently reelected president, is not his own man.
According to reports, scores of Shi’a Muslims have been injured, some of them seriously, for demanding justice be shown, at least in the blessed month of fasting Ramadhan, to their venerable leader, who has languished in prison without trial since December 2015 in spite of the verdict of the Federal Court to release him.
So blind is the hatred of pro-Wahhabi Buhari for a revered follower of the jurisprudential school of the blessed Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), that he continues to violate not just orders of the Apex Court but the constitution of Nigeria.
Sheikh Zakzaky, is in his mid-sixties, lost his left eyesight in the unprovoked attack by the military forces on the Baqiatollah Hussainiya in Zairah. His wife also sustained serious wounds in the savage assault that led to the martyrdom of some one thousand men, women, and children, including three of the Sheikh’s sons.
Yet the IMN Leaders, who is in illegal imprisonment along with his wife and a large number of followers since almost the past four years, is a picture of piety, patience and prudence. As a devout follower of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, despite his sufferings, he has directed his organization to provide the basic needs of many people of Nigeria, especially in the blessed fasting month of Ramadhan.
Recently, a team of medics from Britain was allowed to visit him in prison, giving hopes to his eventual release, but Buhari, who in the Sheikh’s case, follows orders from both the Saudi and Zionist regimes, dashed the hopes of the Nigerian people, despite the fact the visiting physicians urged immediate treatment for him.
It is being speculated that in view of the approach of the World Qods Day on the Last Friday of Ramadhan (May 31), when Muslims all over the world, including Nigeria, rally to demand end to the oppression of the Palestinian people and liberation of Islam’s former qibla, Bayt al-Moqaddas, the Israelis and the Saudis have pressured and bribed the regime to delay Sheikh Zakzaky’s release.
Even Christians and non-Muslims of Nigeria have called on the president to respect the Federal Court’s verdict and release the Sheikh, pointing out that neither he nor the IMN pose any threat to the security of the country, but as full-fledged citizens have the right, according to the constitution, to practice their religious beliefs, without any discrimination by the authorities.
Moreover, they have said the regime cannot hinder Nigerian people from practicing their religious beliefs, and that too on the dictates of other countries, while turning a blind eye to the Boko Haram terrorists, who are funded by Riyadh.
The latest call for was made last week by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle during his opening of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), that it is time for the government to release the Sheikh.
The call came at a time when the Sheikh clocked 68 on April 20 with three of his previous birthday in illegal detention. The birthday was celebrated amidst tears and colourful but peaceful protest by his followers in Abuja.
Earlier on April 29, the Sunni Muslim chairman of the Kaduna faction of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, had urged the federal government to ensure that justice and immediately release Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
In view of these facts and developments, Buhari should heed the voice of reason by ending the illegal detention of the IMN Leader, on whose meeting with NGO and the medical team from London, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had lauded the government of Nigeria, and suggested that he should be released.