Article: For Our Leader, We March On

Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky

By Mahadi Garba

Since after the military brutality against Muslim brothers in Zaria, which left more than 2,000 killed, many missing, some injured, properties worth millions of Naira destroyed and stolen also the spiritual leader of the movement shot and whisked away by the military, people of conscience around the globe have been condemning and protesting the onslaught. From all nooks and crannies, this carnage has continue attracted international condemnation.

The London based human right organisation, Islamic Human Right Commission (IHRC) staged a protest at the Nigerian embassy in the United Kingdom condemning Nigerian government. Myriad of Iranians staged a peaceful demonstrations at the Nigerian embassy in Tehran and the United Nation's secretariat in Mashhad. So also India and Pakistan.

Iranian President, Sheikh Hasan Rouhani has called his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari demanding for a full probe and the unconditional release of his eminence Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. The American President, Barack Obama also called for and expedient investigation.

Iranian ministry of foreign affairs summon Nigeria's Charge d'affairs in Tehran over the senseless killings in Zaria by the Nigerian army. Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Jawad Zarif expressed his deep concern over the Zaria massacre and the illegal detention of Sheikh Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic movement in Nigeria.

Members of the Iranian parliament with a total of 214 people released a statement condemning the brutal massacre in Zaria. A part of the statement reads "The Islamic republic of Iran will spare no opportunity and capability in defending the rights of the Nigerian Muslims especially Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky."

Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Islamic awakening, Ali Akbar Wilayati has issued a statement condemning the inhumane acts of the Nigerian army against Sheikh Zakzaky and his disciples. The Teachers Basij Organization of the Islamic seminary of Qom also condemned Nigerian government over her alliance with Saudi-Wahabi cult, saying the government is working for Saudi and her allies.

Prominent Islamic scholars, Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, Ayatollah Jafar Subhani and Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi raised concern over the attack. They said its unfortunate that the Nigerian army attacked unarmed citizens and called on the Islamic ummah to support Nigerian Shias.

President of the Islamic supreme council of Iraq, Ammar al-Hakim called for the unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky. Also, he Iran Guardian Council condemned the onslaught and asked relevant institutions to probe the crimes and bring the perpetrators to book.

Islamic movement In Pakistan under the guardianship of Allamah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi in a letter describe the attack as Anti-Islamic, inhuman and barbaric act to massacre the civilized peaceful Shia community.

For four consecutive days, members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria have been protesting peacefully around Nigeria, last Tuesday in Kaduna the protest end bloody as Mobile Police (MOPOL), an offshoot of the Nigerian Police Force opened fire on the peaceful protesters along Tudun Wada, Kaduna. 3 people died instantly, while numbers sustain serious injuries.

Amidst this attacks and silent killings by the military on killing sprees we would keep demanding the unconditional release of our Leader and mentor Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky by protesting day and night.

Labbaika Ya Rasulallah!

Labbaika Ya Al-Zakzaky!

(Garba Writes From Zaria, Kaduna State)