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Zakzaky: Islamic Movement Leader |
A combined armed security team on Friday, 1st April has
prevented brothers of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN from conducting the usual
post-khutba preaching session at the Central Juma’at Mosque in Katsina.
They besieged the mosque from the early hours of the morning chanting
“no more Shi’ah in Katsina! ” Even though the brothers of IMN took the decision to cancel the preaching
session in order to avoid spilling of blood of innocent unarmed Muslims by the
military and other security agents, the security agents dispersed worshipers
from the mosque immediately after the Juma’at prayers.
Worship places are supposed to be held in high regard, but the team of
Nigerian Army and other security agents chose to violate the sanctity of the
mosque and right to religious freedom by their
actions.
actions.
Thereafter, there was a heavy security patrol across the main streets of the
town ostensibly to provoke and instill unnecessary fear in the residents. Such
a horrendous situation continued throughout the night.
Also in Yauri town in Kebbi state, there were similar measures taken by the
security agencies there. And just like in Katsina, brothers of the Islamic
Movement in the town suspended their preaching session in
order to foil the determined efforts by the authorities to kill innocent Muslims.
order to foil the determined efforts by the authorities to kill innocent Muslims.
Also, the Divisional Police Officers, DPOs in various towns in Kebbi state gave
written order to the brothers of the Islamic Movement in their domain that they
should cease all their educational activities
or they face the wrath of their might.
or they face the wrath of their might.
The Islamic Movement is particularly worried with this unfortunate development,
especially in Katsina, where the Governor is reported to have vowed not to
trample on the rights of worship by citizens. If
what happened in Katsina is not a denial of our right to worship, what then is it?
what happened in Katsina is not a denial of our right to worship, what then is it?
We wish to state here categorically that we don’t usurp other people’s right to
usage of any mosque where we conduct our educational programs because hold our
sessions on convenient times and nobody is forced to attend. Hence, since this
has been going on peacefully for over the past two decades, those trying to
stop it are the persecutors and perpetrators of breaching public peace.
It is now vividly clear that there are some people hiding under the auspices of
security agencies of our great country to achieve a sectarian agenda of a
particular religious group. They need to be
reminded by all peace loving Nigerians that we are in a secular country, and any attempt to persecute some people because of their religion, will not augur well for the well-being and development of our dear country and its democratic ideals.
reminded by all peace loving Nigerians that we are in a secular country, and any attempt to persecute some people because of their religion, will not augur well for the well-being and development of our dear country and its democratic ideals.
These people, who do not believe in what they are saying, who are busy professing
that one’s right stops at the doorstep of another, are the same people using
the security apparatus to persecute brothers of the Islamic Movement for their
personal whims. Other Nigerians must be wary of them, especially the Christians,
because if they ‘finish with the Shi’a,’ as they keep on echoing, who will be
next?
We dismiss as blatant lies that the movement is intending to usurp the Friday
mosques, the Islamic Movement has never and will never usurped any mosque for
its usage alone. We believe mosques belong to Allah not to any particular sect,
as it is enshrined in the holy Qur’an. In fact we don’t even build our own
mosques, just to preserve the unity and oneness of the Islamic community.
We are forced to ask the government and its agencies, whose interest are they
serving trying to stop us from going to the various mosques in our communities?
We believe that true developmental progress of any nation results from peace,
understanding and harmonious coexistence of the citizens. Hence, any attempt by
the government to launch a genocide on a particular group in not in the
interest of the nation.
We wish to call on the authorities, Katsina and Kebbi state governments in
particular, to let peace reign in their states. Denying others of their
constitutional rights is an open invitation to violence, which the Islamic
Movement strongly opposes.
It is pertinent to state here that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a
peaceful movement that does not accept any form of violence in achieving any of
its ideals. As a result of this we condemn the unnecessary instigation to
violence perpetrated by the government.
We are still re-echoing our demand that our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and
all other brothers and sisters of the Islamic Movement who are now languishing
in different prisons and Army barracks across the country be released
unconditionally.
Signed
Ibrahim Musa
President
Media Forum Of The Islamic Movement In Nigeria
0805 078 6093
President
Media Forum Of The Islamic Movement In Nigeria
0805 078 6093
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