——————————————————————————————

Islamic Human Rights Commission

——————————————————————————————

26 April 2017

PRESS RELEASE – Nigeria: Demonstrators mark 500 days in detention of IMN leader

Protestors in Nigeria have marked 500 days in detention of Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah with a peaceful demonstration in the capital Abuja.

Thousands of demonstrators marched from the Unity Fountain in central Abuja demanding that the government respect the rights to the person, liberty and fair trial afforded to every individual by the Nigerian constitution.

The Zakzakys have been held without charge and mainly incommunicado following their arrest during a savage military assault against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in December 2015. Both were shot during the attack in Zaria in which at least 1000 IMN supporters, including three sons of the couple, were killed and many properties and religious spaces belonging to the IMN and its followers destroyed.

Although Nigeria’s High Court ordered the release of the pair on 2 December 2016 after a period of detention of almost a year the order has yet to be implemented.

Organisers said the pair’s continued detention was “a blight on the democratic credentials on Nigeria in the community of nations.”

For media enquiries or further details please call +44 20 8904 4222 or +44 7958 522196 or +44 7426 728074[Ends]

Notes to editors:

In March 2016 IHRC petitioned the International Criminal Court to to open a preliminary inquiry into the December 2015 massacre of IMN members. The report can be found here

[Ends]

——————————————————————————————

IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org
Twitter @ihrc