Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 02 DECEMBER 2017 (Volume 1 Issue 11)
Introduction
Action Alert
Articles and Resources Digest
Introduction
Welcome to the Nigeria Digest. In this issue you will find an overview of the last two week’s events, including details of the Maulud protest in Kaduna attacked by police and an update on the fundamental rights case of IMN in Sokoto court.
The second anniversary of the Zaria massacre fast approaches. This massacre left over a thousand innocent IMN members either dead or missing, and their leader Ibraheem Zakzaky, his wife, and hundreds of IMN members unjustly detained.
This week we request campaigners to continue demanding the Commonwealth intervene in this case to ensure the immediate release of the Sheikh and all of those unjustly imprisoned.
Note: To enable images in this digest please click on “always show content from this sender” – on top of your email just under sender’s address.
Free Zakzaky!
Action Alert: Nigeria – Demand the Commonwealth intervenes in the Zakzaky case
1. Write to the Commonwealth and demand they intervene. A model letter / email link to the secretary general Baroness Scotland QC is provided below.
2. If you receive a response please forward it to IHRC at info@ihrc.org
Send email to Commonwealth;
To send email please click here and copy following model email in “how can we help” box. The message field allows a maximum of 1000 characters.
Template Email (Max. 1000 characters)
Dear Baroness Scotland QC,
Second anniversary of Zaria massacre and illegal detention of Sheikh Zakzaky
I am writing to you to ask for your urgent intervention to help halt the continuing persecution of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by state authorities.
Since the Zaria massacre in December 2015, there have been hundreds of detentions without charge, as well as arrests and sentences based on trumped up charges. IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife still remain imprisoned without charge despite a court order from December 2016 demanding their release.
Given past actions in imposing sanctions on Nigeria, I urge your office to once more sanction the government of Nigeria until such a time as their political process returns to some form of democratic practice and accountability.
Further, I demand appropriate sanctions be placed against Nigeria for its continued violations of basic human rights in this and other cases.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Your name
Template Letter
Please use the following model letter and send it to the recipient address provided below;
Your name:
Your address:
Date:
Baroness Scotland QC
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London
SW1Y 5HX
Dear Baroness Scotland QC,
Second anniversary of Zaria massacre and illegal detention of Sheikh Zakzaky
I am writing to you to ask for your urgent intervention to help halt the continuing persecution of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by state authorities. Since the shooting of the IMN’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky in December 2015 the situation has progressively deteriorated for the movement and its supporters.
In addition to the massacres of December 2015, the hundreds of detentions without charge, or arrests and sentences based on trumped up charges, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky the movement’s leader and his wife Mallimah Zeenah remain imprisoned without charge, despite a court order from December 2016 demanding their release.
I am sure you agree that this is a most terrible state of affairs, and that the Commonwealth Secretariat must intervene to ensure that these injustices are rectified immediately.
Given the Commonwealth’s past actions in imposing sanctions on Nigeria, I urge your office to once more sanction the government of Nigeria until such a time as their political process returns to some form of democratic practice and accountability.
Further, I demand appropriate sanctions be placed against Nigeria for its continued violations of basic human rights norms in this, and other cases.
I look forward to hearing from you regarding the action your office will take in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature if posting / scanning / faxing]
Your name
ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
Maulud Procession in Kaduna attacked by Police
01 December 2017
IMN organised a massive peaceful procession to celebrate Maulud, birthday of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Kaduna and they were attacked by Police with tear gas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQMe-0p6QRU&feature=youtu.be
CJN reprimands Buhari to his face: learn to obey court judgments and orders
29 November 2017
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, has strongly reprimanded President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday over the President’s now legendary serial disobedience of court orders. Justice Onnoghen reproached the President to his face at the opening session of the 2017 All Nigeria Judges’ conference
Fundamental Rights Case of IMN Members in Sokoto: Court Adjourns Sitting
29 November 2017
The Federal High Court Sokoto has adjourned sitting for two weeks in the case of enforcement of the fundamental rights of members of the Islamic Movement, which came up for hearing today.
The only surviving son of Sheikh Zakzaky writes NBA, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee again
29 November 2017
The only surviving son of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Muhammad Ibrahim Zakzaky, has again written reminder letters to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, drawing their attention to the plight of his parents, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and Malama Zeenat Ibraheem Zakzaky, and calling on them to also help in enforcing the fundamental rights of the duo and to uphold punitive measures against the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Malami Abubakar SAN for failing to enforce a valid judgement of a competent court setting them free.
Plot to exhume mass graves to hide & cover the #ZariaMassacre evidence
29 November 2017 By Muhammad Darazo
It just came to my notice that the Nigerian Government in collaboration with some foreign agencies and individuals are planning to exhume the mass grave of IMN members murdered during the unfortunate Zaria massacre. The exhumation is a move to bury the evidence of the massacre of December 2015 in which hundreds of IMN members were killed. All plans on how the exercise is going to take place has been set up with high conspiracy.
Unfortunately, this plan is not known to the public. I therefore call on the attention of all IMN members and associates to make this evil plan known to the public through all means available especially on Twitter. When tweeting, tag all local and International media houses and those in administration of the Nigerian Government. Let them know that we are aware of their evil plan. We can start now and continue tomorrow. Use the hash tag: *#LeaveIMNMartyrsAlone*
The reliefs sought by IMN before the Federal High Court Sokoto
27 November 2017
Last week IMN members in Sokoto instituted a case against the Sokoto State government, Sokoto State governor, the Sokoto State Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice and the Sokoto State Police Commissioner.
A declaration that the incessant harassments, molestations and open violent physical attacks on the applicants by men of the Sokoto State Police Command on the instructions/orders of the 4th respondent during the applicants’ peaceful religious activities/processions (Ashura) in Sokoto State which hinders the applicants from freely performing/observing their religious obligations constitutes a deliberate infringement of the applicants’ Fundamental Rights to Personal Liberty, Dignity of Human Person and Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion…
—————————————————————————————–
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
The opinions expressed in this email do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC
Copyright © 2017 IHRC, All rights reserved
